But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.”
4. And the king of Egypt said unto them. It is surprising that the king, in the excess of his arrogance, did not more cruelly entreat these servants of God, whom he accounted the ringleaders of sedition. But he was undoubtedly restrained by God from proceeding at once to destroy them.
Their request is humble and reasonable: only three days to journey into the desert and sacrifice to their God, a common practice among nations. They give Pharaoh the warning that neglecting God's worship will bring judgment upon Israel, and he will lose his laborers. Yet he denies them and falsely charges them with idleness, slandering the servants of God as idle and their words as vain, so he might increase their burdens.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 5:3-9
And the king of Egypt said to them,.... For he was not struck dumb, as Artapanus (g), afore cited writer, says: wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? as they did when they gathered them together, and wrought signs before them; which Pharaoh it seems had heard of, and had got their names very readily: get you unto your burdens...