Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron] He hints that the Hebrews are in a state of revolt, and charges Moses and Aaron as being ringleaders of the sedition. This unprincipled charge has been, in nearly similar circumstances, often repeated since. Men who have laboured to bring the mass of the common people from ignorance, irreligion, and general profligacy of manners, to an acquaintance with themselves and God, and to a proper knowledge of their duty to him and to each other, have been often branded as being disaffected to the state, and as movers of sedition among the people! See on "ver. 17".
Let the people] w[yrpt taphriu, from [rp para, to loose or disengage, which we translate to let, from the Anglo-Saxon lettan, to hinder. Ye hinder the people from working. Get ye to your burdens. "Let religion alone, and mind your work." The language not only of tyranny, but of the basest irreligion also.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - God will own his people, though poor and despised, and will find a tim to plead their cause. Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, no love to him, an therefore refused to obey him. Thus Pharaoh's pride, ambition covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his ow destruction. What Moses and Aaron ask is very reasonable, only to go three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. We wil sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Pharaoh was very unreasonable, in saying that the people were idle, and therefore talked of going to sacrifice. He thus misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to add to their burdens. To this day we find many who are more disposed to find fault with their neighbours, for spending in the service of God few hours spared from their wordly business, than to blame others, wh give twice the time to sinful pleasures. Pharaoh's command wa barbarous. Moses and Aaron themselves must get to the burdens Persecutors take pleasure in putting contempt and hardship upo ministers. The usual tale of bricks must be made, without the usua allowance of straw to mix with the clay. Thus more work was to be lai upon the men, which, if they performed, they would be broken with labour; and if not, they would be punished.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אלהם413 מלך4428 מצרים4714 למה4100 משׁה4872 ואהרן175 תפריעו6544 את853 העם5971 ממעשׂיו4639 לכו1980 לסבלתיכם׃5450
