Exodus 5

Chapter 5: Pharaoh Oppresses Israel

Background History and Timeline: Exodus continues the narrative of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. The events in Exodus likely took place around the late 15th or early 14th century BCE.

Locations Mentioned: The chapter primarily takes place in Egypt, where the Israelites are enslaved.

Themes and Conflicts: Exodus 5 portrays the initial confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh regarding the release of the Israelites. It explores themes of oppression, resistance, and divine intervention.

Main Characters: The main characters in this chapter include Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, and the Israelite foremen.

Specific Passages:

• Exodus 5:1: "Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness."'"

Explanation: In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh on behalf of the Israelites, delivering God's command to let His people go to worship Him in the wilderness. However, Pharaoh responds defiantly, refusing to acknowledge the authority of the Lord and denying the request to release the Israelites.

Instead, Pharaoh accuses Moses and Aaron of inciting laziness among the Israelites and imposes even harsher labor upon them. He orders the Israelite foremen to increase the quota of bricks produced while providing no straw, forcing the Israelites to gather their own straw for brickmaking.

The Israelite foremen confront Moses and Aaron, blaming them for worsening their plight before Pharaoh. Moses, feeling the weight of responsibility, cries out to God, questioning the wisdom of his mission and the suffering endured by his people.

Exodus 5 marks the beginning of the struggle between Moses and Pharaoh and sets the stage for the series of plagues that will follow. It highlights the resistance of Pharaoh to God's commands and the escalating oppression faced by the Israelites under his rule.

The chapter underscores the themes of obedience, perseverance, and the sovereignty of God in the face of human resistance and adversity.

Moses is traditionally attributed as the writer of the Book of Exodus, including Chapter 5, as he records the events and interactions with Pharaoh during his mission to liberate the Israelites.