Exodus 5:21
and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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These Hebrew leaders are not just complaining to Moses and Aaron; they're essentially invoking God's judgment on them for making their situation worse. Their phrase "made our savour to stink" isn't just about being disliked; it's about being rendered utterly worthless and repulsive, losing all standing and creating a clear danger that Pharaoh's men would now kill them.
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's demand to Pharaoh, he not only refused but increased the Israelites' workload, leaving them with impossible tasks and no straw. The Israelite officers, caught between Pharaoh's wrath and their people's suffering, now confront Moses and Aaron, accusing them of making things worse and putting their lives in grave danger.
When things go wrong, who do we lash out at? The Israelites' desperation led them to blame Moses and Aaron, even though they were their liberators.
The 'Stink' of Despair
The leaders of the Israelites confronted Moses and Aaron with bitter accusations. They didn't just say things were bad; they said Moses and Aaron had made them 'stink' in the eyes of Pharaoh and his officials. This wasn't just about losing favor; it was a powerful idiom signifying total disgrace and worthlessness. They felt like garbage, offensive and unwanted.
Blame Instead of Belief
Instead of recognizing that Pharaoh’s cruelty was the real problem, they turned their anger on the very people sent to help them. The request for time off to worship God, which seemed reasonable to Moses and Aaron, had backfired, making the Israelites’ situation worse. This led them to accuse Moses and Aaron of giving Pharaoh the perfect excuse to crush them.
Was the request to worship God too much, too soon? This verse highlights how even well-intentioned actions can have unintended, dangerous consequences.
A 'Sword' in the Enemy's Hand
The Israelites' accusation that Moses and Aaron had 'put a sword in their hand to kill us' wasn't necessarily hyperbole. It meant their request had given Pharaoh and his officials the justification they needed to exert extreme cruelty. They felt that Moses and Aaron's actions had armed their oppressors, creating an opportunity for them to be severely punished, possibly even executed.
The Cost of Public Service
This experience is a stark reminder for anyone in leadership or public service, including spiritual leadership. It shows that those trying to do God’s work can face criticism and anger, not just from enemies, but from the very people they are trying to help. The Israelites, in their desperation, didn't see the bigger picture; they only saw the immediate, worsened suffering.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature. It is the name by which He makes Himself known to His people for the purpose of relationship and salvation.
ra'ah · Hebrew Verb
To observe, regard, or provide attention to someone or something. When applied to God, it signifies His active involvement, care, or judgment regarding the conditions of His people.
shaphat · Hebrew Verb
To act as a judge, execute justice, or arbitrate a dispute. It implies bringing a matter to a rightful conclusion, often involving the vindication of the innocent and the correction of wrong.
ba'ash · Hebrew Verb
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron, acting as God's messengers, demanded that Pharaoh let the Israelites go. Pharaoh responded by increasing the Israelites' workload, requiring them to produce the same number of bricks without being given straw.
c. 1446 BC
Increased Oppression of Israelites
The Israelite foremen, under extreme pressure from Egyptian taskmasters, were beaten and blamed for the Pharaoh's impossible demands. This led to their bitter complaints against Moses and Aaron.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Questions God
Overwhelmed by the Israelites' suffering and Pharaoh's increased cruelty, Moses expressed his despair to God, questioning why he was sent and lamenting that God hadn't delivered his people.
This passage also uses the vivid imagery of 'stinking' to describe being held in contempt and bringing disgrace upon a family or community, mirroring the Israelites' fear of Pharaoh's disgust.
1 Samuel 13:4Here, the same idiom is used to express how Saul's actions made him and his army despised and distrusted by the Philistines, highlighting the deep shame and loss of standing the Israelites felt.
Jeremiah 20:7Jeremiah voices a similar lament, feeling deceived and made a laughingstock by the Lord's message, echoing the Israelites' sense of betrayal and despair when God's promises seem to lead to greater suffering.
Romans 9:14Paul directly quotes and addresses a similar sentiment about God's justice and mercy, wrestling with the apparent harshness of God's actions when the Israelites feel wronged, much like Moses and the Israelite officers did here.
ellicottExodus 5:21: "And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us."
(21) Ye have made our savour to be abhorred. —Heb., to stink. An idiom common to the Hebrews with the Egyptians (Comp. Genesis 34:30 ; 1Samuel 13:4 ; 2Samuel 10:6 , &c, with Papyr. Anastas. 1:27, 7), and very expressive. The English idiom, “to be in bad odour with a person,” is…
gillExodus 5:21: "And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us."
And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you and judge,.... Or, "will look upon you and judge" (q); and so it is either a prediction of what would be done to them, or an imprecation on them that God would take notice of their conduct, and punish them, or at least chastise the…
These Hebrew leaders are not just complaining to Moses and Aaron; they're essentially invoking God's judgment on them for making their situation worse. Their phrase "made our savour to stink" isn't just about being disliked; it's about being rendered utterly worthless and repulsive, losing all standing and creating a clear danger that Pharaoh's men would now kill them.
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's demand to Pharaoh, he not only refused but increased the Israelites' workload, leaving them with impossible tasks and no straw. The Israelite officers, caught between Pharaoh's wrath and their people's suffering, now confront Moses and Aaron, accusing them of making things worse and putting their lives in grave danger.
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's demand to Pharaoh, he not only refused but increased the Israelites' workload, leaving them with impossible tasks and no straw. The Israelite officers, caught between Pharaoh's wrath and their people's suffering, now confront Moses and Aaron, accusing them of making things worse and putting their lives in grave danger.
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Used here metaphorically to describe becoming abhorrent, repulsive, or offensive to others. It denotes the loss of favor or status, resulting in hostility or rejection.
Par'oh · Hebrew Proper Noun
Sovereign ruler of Egypt, representative of worldly power and opposition to God’s people. His name serves as a symbol of oppressive regimes that resist the divine will.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A weapon of warfare, often used symbolically in Scripture to represent violence, death, and judgment. Being put in someone's hand signifies granting them the power or opportunity to inflict harm.
"and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”" — These Hebrew leaders are not just complaining to Moses and Aaron; they're essentially invoking God's judgment on them for making their situation worse. Their phrase "made our savour to stink" isn't j…
