And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
Cruel princes always find cruel servants willing to obey them, and this enmity against God's people breaks through all bounds of reason and justice. The scattered Israelites, forced to gather stubble while the work stays the same, made Pharaoh's tyranny known throughout Egypt; persecution never wins good-will, even from a despot's own subjects.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 5:10-14
And the taskmasters of the people went out,.... From the presence of Pharaoh, out of his court, to the respective places where they were set to see that the Israelites did their work: and their officers; the officers of the Israelites, who were under the taskmasters, and answerable to them for the work of the people, and their tale of bricks: and they spake to...
Pharaoh calls Moses's words lies, the claim that God appeared and demands a festival. He orders the work pressed harder so the people stay occupied and ignore those lying words. In verse 11, the emphasis is pointed: ye yourselves must fetch straw, not others for you as before; nothing is taken from your quota. The king drives the knife deeper with each word.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 5:9-11