[Translation: EF/Everett Fox, The Five Books of Moses. The introductory commentary is our own Sinaite discussion of this chapter—we usually allow for straight reading of each chapter without too much interruption from commentaries except our own. The next post usually follows this ‘straight-read’and that one has verse by verse commentary from 3-4 of our specially selected sources. —-Admin 1.]
The message of the God on Sinai as given to Moshe, then shared with Aharon to be transmitted to Pharaoh is not so clear to us. We’ve been brainwashed by Hollywood as well as song lyrics: “Let my people go,” meaning—release my people from slavery.
It appears that is not at all the initial message, instead it is this: allow the Hebrew slaves to “observe a feast to Me” or “celebrate for Me” in the wilderness. It is simply asking permission to go off to worship the God of the Hebrew slaves, whose Name is YHWH, outside of the land of Egypt.
Now why do they need to get out of Egypt just to do this? Could they not do it right there in Egypt? Is Israel’s God a territorial deity, present in the wilderness but not in Egypt? None of the answers to these questions are answered by the text.
What is answered is Pharaoh’s reaction to the Name:
Who is YHVH, that I should hearken to his voice to send Israel free?
Indeed, where does this God with this Name belong in Egypt’s pantheon of gods?
It is ironic that this is the same reaction of people TO THIS DAY who are not familiar with the Name YHWH. Writings both Jewish and Christian actually refer to YHWH as the “Jewish God”—really, does God have a nationality? “God of the Jews” or “God of Israel” is appropriate at this time in the biblical narrative, since the God who spoke to Mosheh on Sinai identifies Himself as the same God who spoke to the patriarchs of the Hebrew slaves.
Because of this request which Pharaoh denies, the making of bricks by the slaves are made more difficult because they are required the same work output but without straw. There is no rest for slaves, no day of rest, every day is the same. ArtScroll note:
“The Jewish nation is too large for him (Pharaoh) even to consider a mass exodus for three days. Therefore, let Moses and Aaron cease making trouble and go back to their own personal chores.”
Those in charge of the Hebrew slaves complain to Moshe and Aharon, and Moshe in turn complains to God. Moses at this point continues to be the reluctant messenger, a bit disappointing for someone who has had the unique experience of seeing an unconsumed burning bush, who has been spoken to by the Almighty God Himself, who has been encouraged, and taught, given the words to say, then backed up by his own brother as companion during this mission . . . you would think anyone would instantly transform from coward to brave heart! And yet he doubts that the God who sent him is more powerful than a mere man like the Pharaoh.
NSB@S6K, for SINAI 6000
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Image from pinstake.com
Exodus/Shemoth 5
1 Afterward Moshe and Aharon came and said to Pharaoh:Thus says YHVH, the God of Israel:
Send free my people, that they may hold-a-festival to me in the wilderness!
2 Pharaoh said:
Who is YHVH, that I should hearken to his voice to send Israel free?
I do not know YHVH,
moreover, Israel I will not send free!
S6K: Highlight ours. Obviously, the Name YHWH, the God named YHWH, was not among the gods in Egypt’s pantheon, nor known among other heathen empires. Please refer to Shemoth 5a post to read an illuminating write-up in Pentateuch & Haftorahs about the spiritual contrast between Israel and Egypt.]
3 They said:
The God of the Hebrews has met with us;
pray let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness,
and let us slaughter (offerings) to YHVH our God,
lest he confront us with the pestilence or the sword!
4 The king of Egypt said to them:
For-what-reason, Moshe and Aharon,
would you let the people loose from their tasks?
Go back to your burdens!
5 Pharaoh said:
Here, too many now are the people of the land,
and you would have them cease from their burdens!
6 So that day Pharaoh commanded the slave-drivers of the people and its officers, saying:
7 You are no longer to give straw to the people to make the bricks as yesterday and the day-before;
let it be them that go and gather straw for themselves!
8 But the (same) measure of bricks that they have been making, yesterday and the day-before. you are to impose on them,
you are not to subtract from it!
For they are lax-
therefore they cry out, saying: Let us go, let us slaughter (offerings) to our God!
9 Let the servitude weigh-heavily on the men!
They shall have to do it, so that they pay no more regard to false words!
10 The slave-drivers of the people and its officers went out
and said to the people, saying:
Thus says Pharaoh:
I will not give you straw:
11 You go, get yourselves straw, wherever you can find (it),
indeed, not one (load) is to be subtracted from your servitude!
12 The people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt,
gathering stubble-gatherings for straw.
13 But the slave-drivers pressed them hard, saying:
Finish your tasks, each-day’s work-load in its day, as when there was straw!
14 And the officers of the Children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s slave-drivers had set over them, were beaten,
they said (to them):
For-what-reason have you not finished baking your allocation as yesterday and the day-before,
so yesterday, so today?
15 The officers of the Children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying:
Why do you do thus to your servants?
16 No straw is being given to your servants, and as for bricks-they say to us, Make (them)!
Here, your servants are being beaten, and the fault is your people’s!
17 But he said:
Lax you are, lax,
therefore you say: Let us go, let us slaughter (offerings) to YHVH-
18 so now, go-serve;
no straw will be given to you,
and the full-measure in bricks you must give back!
19 The officers of the Children of Israel saw that they were in an ill-plight,
having to say: Do not subtract from your bricks each-day’s work-load in its day!
20 They confronted Moshe and Aharon, stationing themselves to meet them when they came out from Pharaoh,
21 they said to them:
May YHVH see you and judge,
for having made our smell reek in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants,
giving a sword into their hand, to kill us!
22 Moshe returned to YHVH and said:
My Lord,
for-what-reason have you dealt so ill with this people?
For-what-reason have you sent me?
23 Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has dealt only ill with this people,
and rescued-you have not rescued your people!