Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. And the tale of the bricks] Tale signifies the number, from the Anglo-Saxon , to number, to count, &c.
For they be idle; therefore they cry-Let us go and sacrifice] Thus their desire to worship the true God in a proper manner was attributed to their unwillingness to work; a reflection which the Egyptians (in principle) of the present day cast on these who, while they are fervent in spirit serving the Lord, are not slothful in business. See below "ver. 17".
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 ואת853 מתכנת4971 הלבנים3843 אשׁר834 הם1992 עשׂים6213 תמול8543 שׁלשׁם8032 תשׂימו7760 עליהם5921 לא3808 תגרעו1639 ממנו4480 כי3588 נרפים7503 הם1992 על5921 כן3651 הם1992 צעקים6817 לאמר559 נלכה1980 נזבחה2076 לאלהינו׃430
