Ex. 5 Moses and Aaron entreateth Pharaoh to let the people go, Ex. 5:1. Pharaoh’s blasphemous refusal, Ex. 5:2. Chides Moses and Aaron for their request, Ex. 5:4. Pharaoh, seeing the Israelites to be many, Ex. 5:5, commands the task-masters and officers to increase their bondage, Ex. 5:6–9.

Moses and Aaron went in, and with them some of the elders of Israel, as may seem from Ex. 3:18, though here only the two chiefs be mentioned. Or, because Moses did not seem to be satisfied with the assistance of the elders before offered him, Ex.

I am the sovereign lord of Egypt, and I own no superior here.

Hath met with us, i.e. hath appeared to us lately, and laid this command upon us. Others, is called upon us, i.e. his name is called upon us, or we are called by his name.

Either, 1. Ye, the elders of Israel, who are here come with Moses and Aaron: see Ex. 5:1. Or, 2. Ye, Moses and Aaron. So far am I from granting the liberty which you desire for the people, that as a just punishment upon you for your seditious attempt, I command you also to go with the rest, and to…

The Israelites in this land are very numerous, and therefore it were a madness in me to permit them all to meet and go together as you desire, which may tend to the ruin of my whole kingdom, and probably it is designed by you to that purpose.

The task-masters were Egyptians, and the officers were Israelites, under-officers to them, Ex. 5:14–15, Ex. 5:19.

The straw was used either to mingle with the clay, that’ it might not be too brittle; or to cover the clay when it was formed into bricks, that the heat of the sun might not dry them too much, which might easily be done in that hot country; or for fuel, either wholly or in part, to burn their…

The words of Moses and Aaron, which are vain or false, i.e. which they falsely pretend to come from God, when it is only an ill design of their own to advance themselves by raising sedition.

All the land of Egypt, i.e. all that part of it; which is a very usual synecdoche.

i.e. The Egyptian task-masters, who, by sending us abroad to gather straw, hinder us from doing the work which they require; and so they are both unjust and unreasonable.

Did see that they were in evil case, or, looked upon them with sadness, or with an evil eye, i.e. with a sorrowful and angry countenance, as those that could obtain no relaxation for themselves or for their brethren.

They, i.e. the officers who went to pour out their complaints to Pharaoh, Ex. 5:15

To give them what they have long sought and thirsted after, to wit, an occasion to destroy and root us out.

Moses returned unto the Lord, to expostulate with him, and pray to him. To the people he saith nothing, but meekly passeth by their severe censures, as forced from them by intolerable oppression; and because their minds being now imbittered and exasperated, they were incapable of admonition.

In thy name; not of my own head, but by thy command and commission. Neither hast thou delivered thy people, according to thy promise and mine, and thy people’s just expectation.