The Inglorious Beginning

This is the Bible study page for the study of Exodus 5. This chapter begins the confrontation of Pharaoh by Moses and Aaron. There are no plagues, only the response of Pharaoh to the request to go worship Yahweh in the wilderness.

Read through chapter 5 by itself a few times. Then read it again, continuing into chapter 6. Be sure, at this point to read all of chapter 6 along with 5. The point is both to gain context, but also a prelude to the study of the problems presented by the structure of chapter 6. Makes notes on what you discover in chapter 5. You may find it helpful to jot down some notes to set aside regarding chapter 6 as you read that for context. The comparison of the two chapters may be helpful.

Once you have your notes and questions from your own study, go back through the chapter with a commentary or two. Revise your own notes and questions from what you learn from the commentaries. After you have made any revisions you see fit, go back through chapter 5 with the questions below:

• After Moses and Aaron meet with the elders of the sons of Israel (Ex 4:29-31), they go to Pharaoh. Consider the statement of Moses and Aaron in verse 1. Imagine you are Pharaoh of Egypt, and everything happens because you say so. What would you think of Moses' attitude in relaying this demand?
• Pharaoh responds, predictably, that he neither knows Yahweh, nor will he listen to Yahweh. Why do you think that Moses doesn't drop the staff, or pour out water, or stick his hand in his shirt or something to show Pharaoh he's serious?
• Moses tries again using both a different reason of why they want Pharaoh to let them go, and also a different name for the people, Hebrews. Why do you think Moses would switch around the terms this way? What do you think he gains by this approach?
• In verses 4 and 5, Pharaoh responds with, "Get back to work, you slackers!" What do you think of his response? What if it were your kids asking to go out into the wilderness to party, because "God told them so", what do you think you would say?
• Pharaoh then makes a change to the workload of the sons of Israel. Now they have to gather straw as well as make the same amount of bricks. What do you think Pharaoh is doing here? How likely do you think it will be that this will become the new "normal", a sustainable solution?
• There are two groups listed in who Pharaoh delivers this edict to. The first are the slave-drivers (Strong's H5065), and the second are the "foremen" or "officers" (Strong's H7860). The foremen are later shown to be Hebrews themselves. These "layers" of officials is consistent with evidence we see in Egyptian writings about forced labor. Why do you think, if Pharaoh gives this edict to the foremen, they, later, go to him to get it repealed?
• In response to the edict, the people scatter all over the land of Egypt seeking straw, but find only the dry stuff, which isn't good for bricks. Why do you think the king would give the workers a directive that would result in defective bricks? What do you think he is after if it's not exactly "quality"?
• The group of "slave-drivers" or "taskmasters" were insistent upon the people also completing the required amount of bricks. And the "foremen" were beaten when the bricks ran short. Now look at verse 15. Why do you think the foremen complain there if they were already aware of the edict in verses 6 through 9? Keep in mind, they are also involved in communicating this edict to the people in verses 10 and 11. 
• The complaint does not change Pharaoh, and he repeats the edict to them, supporting it with the same support, the people are lazy. The foremen return to Moses and Aaron and complain to them, but not about Yahweh. They call Yahweh to judge between the people and Moses. Why do you think they view Moses as the one in error? Notice they don't deny the name of God, nor question His existence. Why do you think they question the role and calling of Moses?
• The wording used in this chapter is interesting. The word, "cried" in verse 15 is normally used for the crying out to God (Strong's H6817). Pharaoh uses this word to describe the plea of Moses and Aaron to him (v. 8). The idea in how this word is used in this chapter has Pharaoh as the object being cried out to, not Yahweh. How do you see this as important for plot of this story? Remember that the foremen go and cry out to Pharaoh for relief, not Yahweh. Therefore, the people are not yet crying out to Yahweh (not using this word anyway).
• Another word used in this chapter that carries an ironic meaning is "serve" and "servant". In chapter 3, God uses this term to refer to the "worship" that the sons of Israel will do at the mountain of God (Ex 3:12 Strong's H5647). So, the word includes both serving and worshiping (or worshiping through service). Look at all the occurrences of "servant" in chapter 5. In verse 15 and 16, the word occurs three times in reference by the foremen to themselves. And then again in verse 21 to refer to the taskmasters. What do you think of the focus of the foremen? Whom do they "serve", and how do you think this will need to change as the people leave the land?
• Moses complains back to God. Look at his statements, that God has not delivered the people at all. Why do you think Moses would have expected God to deliver without any sort of act of power, or some other sort of proof to Pharaoh? Consider all the things that Moses has been told by God so far. How does his complaint make any sense to you?

That should keep us busy as we go through the chapter. Remember to be thinking and seeking the character of God through all your searching, notes and questions.