upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
Finding that Pharaoh had no veneration at all for God, Moses and Aaron next try whether he had any compassion for Israel, and become humble suitors to him for leave to go and sacrifice, but in vain.
1. Their request is very humble and modest, v. 3. They make no complaint of the rigour they were ruled with; they plead that the journey they designed, was not a project formed among themselves, but that their God had met with them, and called them to it; they beg with all submission, We pray thee: the poor useth entreaties; though God may summon princes that oppress, it becomes us to beseech and make supplication to them. What they ask is very reasonable, only for a short vacation, while they went three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand, and unexceptionable; "We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God, as other people do to their's;" and (lastly) they give a very good reason, "Lest if we quite cast off his worship, he fall upon us with one judgment or other, and then Pharaoh will lose his vassals."
2. Pharaoh's denial of their request is very barbarous and unreasonable, v. 4··9. (1.) His suggestions were very unreasonable; [1.] That the people were idle, and that therefore they talked of going to sacrifice. The cities they built for Pharaoh, and the other fruit of their labours, were witnesses for them, that they were not idle; yet he thus basely misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to increase their burthens. [2.] That Moses and Aaron made them idle with vain words, v. 9. God's words are here called vain words; and those that called them to the best and most needful business, are accused of making them idle. Note, The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God as fit employment for those only that have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle, whereas indeed it is the indispensable duty of those that are most busy in the world. (2.) His resolutions hereupon were most barbarous: [1.] Moses and Aaron themselves must get to their burthens, (v. 4.) they are Israelites, and, however God had distinguished them from the rest, Pharaoh makes no difference, they must share in the common slavery of their nation. Persecutors have always taken a particular pleasure in putting contempt and hardship upon the ministers of the churches. [2.] The usual tale of bricks must be exacted, without the usual allowance of straw to mix with the clay, or to burn them with; that thus more work might be laid upon the men, which if they performed, they would be broken with labour; and if not, they would be exposed to punishment.
10. And the task-masters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. 11. Go ye, get you straw where you can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished. 12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble instead of straw. 13. And the task masters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. 14. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?
Pharaoh's orders are here put in execution; straw is denied, and yet the work not diminished. 1. The Egyptian taskmasters were very severe. Pharaoh having decreed unrighteous decrees, the taskmasters were ready to write the grievousness that he had prescribed, Isa. 10. 1. Cruel princes will never want cruel instruments to be employed under them, who will justify them in that which is most unreasonable. These taskmasters insisted upon the daily tasks, as when there was straw, v. 13. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, 2 Thess. 3. 2. The enmity of the serpent's seed against the seed of the woman, is such as breaks through all the laws of reason, honour, humanity and common justice. 2. The people hereby were dispersed throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble, v. 12. By this means Pharaoh's unjust and barbarous usage of them came to be known to all the kingdom, and perhaps caused them to be pitied by all their neighbours, and made Pharaoh's government less acceptable even to his own subjects: good-will is never got by persecution. 3. The Israelite-officers were used with particular harshness, v. 14. They that were the fathers of the houses of Israel paid dear for their honour; for from them immediately the service was exacted, and they were beaten when it was not performed. See here, (1.) What a miserable thing slavery is, and what reason we have to be thankful to God that we are a free people, and not oppressed. Liberty and property are valuable jewels in the eyes of those whose services and possessions lie at the mercy of an arbitrary power. (2.) What disappointments we often meet with, after the raising of our expectations. The Israelites were now lately encouraged to hope for enlargement; but, behold, greater distresses. This teaches us always to rejoice with trembling. (3.) What strange steps God sometimes takes in delivering his people; he often brings them to the utmost straits, then when he is just ready to appear for them. The lowest ebbs go before the highest tides; and very cloudy mornings commonly introduce the fairest days, Deut. 32. 36. God's time to help is when things are at the worst; and Providence verifies the paradox, The worse, the better.
15. Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? 16. There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick : and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. 17. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle; therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. 18. Go therefore now and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. 19. And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. 20. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh; 21. And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because you have made our sa-
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