Exodus 5:15 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Then the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him, saying, 'Why are you treating your servants this way?'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The Israelite supervisors desperately appealed to Pharaoh, asking why he was treating them so harshly.

📚 Historical Context

In the biblical narrative of Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and forced into grueling labor under Pharaoh's oppressive rule. When Moses and Aaron, acting on God's command, demanded that Pharaoh let the people go to worship, he responded by making their work even harder, such as withholding straw for brick-making while still requiring the same production quotas. This escalation of cruelty prompted the Israelite officers, who oversaw the workers, to directly appeal to Pharaoh in desperation.

Explore Similar Verses

Leviticus 25:39

If your fellow Israelite who lives near you becomes poor and has to sell himself to you as a servant, don't treat him like a slave.

Leviticus 25:46

You may pass them down as an inheritance to your children after you, for them to own as property; they can be your servants permanently. But you must not rule harshly over your fellow Israelites.

Leviticus 25:53

He should be treated like a worker hired for a year at a time. The master must not treat him harshly while you are watching.

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