Exodus 5
Commentary from 5 fathers
And Pharao said, Who is he that I should hearken to his voice, so that I should send away the children of Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.
καὶ εἶπε Φαραώ· τίς ἐστιν οὗ εἰσακούσομαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ, ὥστε ἐξαποστεῖλαι τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ; οὐκ οἶδα τὸν Κύριον καὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ οὐκ ἐξαποστέλλω.
Рече́ же фараѡ́нъ: кто́ є҆сть, є҆гѡ́же послꙋ́шаю гла́са, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿпꙋсти́ти и҆́мамъ сы́ны і҆и҃лєвы; не вѣ́мъ гдⷭ҇а, и҆ і҆и҃лѧ не ѿпꙋщꙋ̀.
Let us then become lowly, that we may be high. For most utterly does arrogance abase. This abased Pharaoh. For, “I know not,” he says, “the Lord,” and he became inferior to flies and frogs and the locusts, and after that with his very arms and horses was he drowned in the sea. In direct opposition to him, Abraham says, “I am dust and ashes” and prevailed over countless barbarians, and having fallen into the midst of Egyptians, returned, bearing a trophy more glorious than the former, and, cleaving to this virtue, grew ever more high.
Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 65
And they say to him, The God of the Hebrews has called us to him: we will go therefore a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest at any time death or slaughter happen to us.
καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ὁ Θεὸς τῶν ῾Εβραίων προσκέκληται ἡμᾶς· πορευσόμεθα οὖν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ὅπως θύσωμεν Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, μή ποτε συναντήσῃ ἡμῖν θάνατος ἢ φόνος.
И҆ глаго́лютъ є҆мꙋ̀: бг҃ъ є҆вре́йскїй призва̀ на́съ: по́йдемъ ᲂу҆̀бо пꙋте́мъ тре́хъ дні́й въ пꙋсты́ню, да пожре́мъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ, да не когда̀ слꙋчи́тсѧ на́мъ сме́рть и҆лѝ ᲂу҆бі́йство.
And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, turn the people from their works? depart each of you to your works.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου· ἱνατί Μωυσῆ καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν διαστρέφετε τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων; ἀπέλθατε ἕκαστος ὑμῶν πρὸς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ ца́рь є҆гѵ́петскїй: вскꙋ́ю, мѡѷсе́й и҆ а҆арѡ́нъ, развраща́ете лю́ди моѧ̑ ѿ дѣ́лъ и҆́хъ; и҆ди́те кі́йждо ва́съ на дѣла̀ своѧ̑.
And Pharao said, Behold now, the people is very numerous; let us not then give them rest from their work.
καὶ εἶπε Φαραώ· ἰδοὺ νῦν πολυπληθεῖ ὁ λαός· μὴ οὖν καταπαύσωμεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων.
И҆ речѐ фараѡ́нъ: сѐ, нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆мно́жишасѧ лю́дїе сі́и на землѝ: ᲂу҆̀бо не дади́мъ почи́ти и҆̀мъ ѿ дѣ́лъ.
And Pharao gave orders to the task-masters of the people and the accountants, saying,
συνέταξε δὲ Φαραὼ τοῖς ἐργοδιώκταις τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τοῖς γραμματεῦσι λέγων·
Заповѣ́да же фараѡ́нъ приста́вникѡмъ дѣ́лъ людски́хъ и҆ книго́чїѧмъ, глаго́лѧ:
Ye shall no longer give straw to the people for brick-making as yesterday and the third day; but let them go themselves, and collect straw for themselves.
οὐκέτι προστεθήσεσθε διδόναι ἄχυρον τῷ λαῷ εἰς τὴν πλινθουργίαν καθάπερ χθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν· ἀλλ᾿ αὐτοὶ πορευέσθωσαν καὶ συναγαγέτωσαν ἑαυτοῖς ἄχυρα.
не ктомꙋ̀ приложи́те даѧ́ти пле́въ лю́демъ къ плїнѳодѣ́ланїю, ꙗ҆́коже вчера̀ и҆ тре́тїѧгѡ днѐ: но са́ми да и҆́дꙋтъ и҆ собира́ютъ пле́вы себѣ̀:
And thou shalt impose on them daily the rate of brick-making which they perform: thou shalt not abate anything, for they are idle; therefore have they cried, saying, Let us arise and do sacrifice to our God.
καὶ τὴν σύνταξιν τῆς πλινθείας, ἧς αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσι, καθ᾿ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν ἐπιβαλεῖς αὐτοῖς, οὐκ ἀφελεῖς οὐδέν· σχολάζουσι γάρ· διὰ τοῦτο κεκράγασι λέγοντες· ἐγερθῶμεν καὶ θύσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
и҆ ᲂу҆ро́къ плїнѳодѣ́ланїѧ, є҆́же ѻ҆нѝ творѧ́тъ, на кі́йждо де́нь наложи́те и҆̀мъ: не ᲂу҆е́млите ничто́же: пра́здни бо сꙋ́ть: сегѡ̀ ра́ди возопи́ша, глаго́люще: да по́йдемъ, и҆ пожре́мъ бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ:
Let the works of these men be made grievous, and let them care for these things, and not care for vain words.
βαρυνέσθω τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἀνθρώπων τούτων, καὶ μεριμνάτωσαν ταῦτα καὶ μὴ μεριμνάτωσαν ἐν λόγοις κενοῖς.
да ѡ҆тѧгча́тсѧ дѣла̀ люді́й си́хъ, и҆ да пекꙋ́тсѧ ѡ҆ ни́хъ, и҆ не помы́слѧтъ ѡ҆ словесѣ́хъ сꙋ́етныхъ.
When both the good and the bad do the same things and suffer the same things, they are to be distinguished by their intentions, not by their acts and penalties. Pharaoh oppressed the people of God with hard labors; Moses afflicted the same people, who had fallen into idolatry, with severe punishments. They did the same things, but they did not aim at the same result. The former was puffed up with pride of power, the latter was animated by love.
Letter 93
And the taskmasters and the accountants hastened them, and they spoke to the people, saying, thus says Pharao, I [will] give you straw no longer.
κατέσπευδεν δὲ αὐτοὺς οἱ ἐργοδιῶκται καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς τὸν λαὸν λέγοντες· τάδε λέγει Φαραώ· οὐκέτι δίδωμι ὑμῖν ἄχυρα·
Понꙋжда́хꙋ же и҆̀хъ приста̑вницы и҆ книгѡ́чїѧ и҆ глаго́лахꙋ лю́демъ, рекꙋ́ще: сїѧ̑ глаго́летъ фараѡ́нъ: не ктомꙋ̀ даю̀ ва́мъ пле́въ:
Go ye, yourselves, get for yourselves straw whencesoever ye can find it, for nothing is diminished from your rate.
αὐτοὶ ὑμεῖς πορευόμενοι συλλέγετε ἑαυτοῖς ἄχυρα, ὅθεν ἐὰν εὕρητε, οὐ γὰρ ἀφαιρεῖται ἀπὸ τῆς συντάξεως ὑμῶν οὐδέν.
са́ми вы̀ ше́дше собира́йте себѣ̀ пле́вы, и҆дѣ́же а҆́ще ѡ҆брѧ́щете: и҆́бо не бꙋ́детъ ᲂу҆ѧ́то ѿ ᲂу҆ро́ка ва́шегѡ ничто́же.
So the people were dispersed in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.
καὶ διεσπάρη ὁ λαὸς ἐν ὅλῃ γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, συναγαγεῖν καλάμην εἰς ἄχυρα·
И҆ разыдо́шасѧ лю́дїе по все́й землѝ є҆гѵ́петстѣй собира́ти тро́стїе на пле́вы.
and the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your regular daily tasks, even as when straw was given you.
οἱ δὲ ἐργοδιῶκται κατέσπευδον αὐτοὺς λέγοντες· συντελεῖτε τὰ ἔργα τὰ καθήκοντα καθ᾿ ἡμέραν, καθάπερ καὶ ὅτε τὸ ἄχυρον ἐδίδοτο ὑμῖν.
Приста̑вницы же понꙋжда́хꙋ и҆̀хъ, глаго́люще: соверша́йте дѣла̀ ва̑ша ᲂу҆рѡ́чнаѧ на всѧ́къ де́нь, ꙗ҆́коже и҆ є҆гда̀ пле́вы даѧ́хомъ ва́мъ.
And the accountants of the race of the children of Israel, who were set over them by the masters of Pharao, were scourged, [[and questioned,]] [men] saying, Why have ye not fulfilled your rates of brick-work as yesterday and the third day, to-day also?
καὶ ἐμαστιγώθησαν οἱ γραμματεῖς τοῦ γένους τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ, οἱ κατασταθέντες ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐπιστατῶν τοῦ Φαραώ, λέγοντες· διατί οὐ συνετελέσατε τὰς συντάξεις ὑμῶν τῆς πλινθείας καθάπερ χθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν, καὶ τὸ τῆς σήμερον;
И҆ бїе́ни бы́ша книгѡ́чїѧ ро́да сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, и҆̀же бы́ша приста́влени над̾ ни́ми ѿ приста́вникѡвъ фараѡ́новыхъ, глаго́люще: почто̀ не соверши́сте ᲂу҆ро́ка ва́шегѡ плі́нѳеннагѡ, ꙗ҆́коже вчера̀ и҆ тре́тїѧгѡ днѐ, та́кожде и҆ дне́сь;
And the accountants of the children of Israel went in and cried to Pharao, saying, Why dost thou act thus to thy servants?
εἰσελθόντες δὲ οἱ γραμματεῖς τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ κατεβόησαν πρὸς Φαραὼ λέγοντες· ἱνατί σὺ οὕτως ποιεῖς τοῖς σοῖς οἰκέταις;
Вше́дше же книгѡ́чїѧ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, возопи́ша къ фараѡ́нꙋ, глаго́люще: почто́ ты та́кѡ твори́ши рабѡ́мъ твои̑мъ;
Straw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy people.
ἄχυρον οὐ δίδοται τοῖς οἰκέταις σου, καὶ τὴν πλίνθον ἡμῖν λέγουσι ποιεῖν, καὶ ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδές σου μεμαστίγωνται· ἀδικήσεις οὖν τὸν λαόν σου.
пле́въ не даю́тъ рабѡ́мъ твои̑мъ, и҆ плі̑нѳы на́мъ глаго́лютъ твори́ти: и҆ сѐ, рабѝ твоѝ мꙋ́чими сꙋ́ть: ѡ҆би́диши ᲂу҆̀бо люді́й твои́хъ.
And he said to them, Ye are idle, ye are idlers: therefore ye say, Let us go [and] do sacrifice to our God.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· σχολάζετε, σχολασταί ἐστε· διὰ τοῦτο λέγετε· πορευθῶμεν, θύσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ: пра́здни, пра́здни є҆стѐ: сегѡ̀ ра́ди глаго́лете: да и҆́демъ, пожре́мъ бг҃ꙋ на́шемꙋ:
Even Pharaoh knew that it was proper for one to seek God when he was unoccupied, and for this reason he reproached Israel: “You are unoccupied, you are idle, and you say, ‘We shall offer prayers to the Lord, our God.’ ” Now leisure itself is good and useful to him who is unoccupied, since it produces quiet for the acquisition of salutary doctrines. But the leisure of the Athenians was evil, “who used to spend all their leisure telling or listening to something new.” Even at the present time some imitate this, misusing the leisure of life for the discovery of some newer teaching.
Exegetic Homilies 18.8
Now then go and work, for straw shall not be given to you, yet ye shall return the rate of bricks.
νῦν οὖν πορευθέντες ἐργάζεσθε· τὸ γὰρ ἄχυρον οὐ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν, καὶ τὴν σύνταξιν τῆς πλινθείας ἀποδώσετε.
нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆̀бо ше́дше дѣ́лайте: пле́въ бо не да́мъ ва́мъ, ᲂу҆ро́къ же дѣ́ланїѧ плі́нѳеннагѡ да ѿдаетѐ.
And the accountants of the children of Israel saw themselves in an evil light, [men] saying, Ye shall not fail to deliver the daily rate of the brick-making.
ἑώρων δὲ οἱ γραμματεῖς τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἑαυτοὺς ἐν κακοῖς λέγοντες· οὐκ ἀπολείψετε τῆς πλινθείας τὸ καθῆκον τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.
Ви́дѧхꙋ же книгѡ́чїи сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ себѐ во ѕлы́хъ, глаго́люще: не ѡ҆ста́вите плїнѳодѣ́ланїѧ ᲂу҆ро́чнагѡ дню̀.
And they met Moses and Aaron coming forth to meet them, as they came forth from Pharao.
συνήντησαν δὲ Μωυσῇ καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν ἐρχομένοις εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῖς, ἐκπορευομένων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Φαραώ.
Срѣто́ша же мѡѷсе́а и҆ а҆арѡ́на, и҆дꙋ́щихъ во срѣ́тенїе и҆̀мъ, и҆сходѧ́щымъ и҆̀мъ ѿ фараѡ́на,
In Moses and Aaron the law and the prophets are prefigured. A sick soul often murmurs to itself against the sacred words. After it has begun to hear and follow the heavenly words, the opposition of the Egyptian king—that is, the temptation of an evil spirit—rises up. So the physician should carefully make known to the soul that is making progress which temptations will attack it, so that it can carefully prepare itself for the snares of an evil spirit. Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Exodus
In Moses and Aaron the law and the prophets are prefigured. A sick soul often murmurs to itself against the sacred words. After it has begun to hear and follow the heavenly words, the opposition of the Egyptian king—that is, the temptation of an evil spirit—rises up. So the physician should carefully make known to the soul that is making progress which temptations will attack it, so that it can carefully prepare itself for the snares of an evil spirit.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament, Exodus 11
And they said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge you, for ye have made our savour abominable before Pharao, and before his servants, to put a sword into his hands to slay us.
καὶ εἶπαν αὐτοῖς· ἴδοι ὁ Θεὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ κρίναι, ὅτι ἐβδελύξατε τὴν ὀσμὴν ἡμῶν ἐναντίον Φαραὼ καὶ ἐναντίον τῶν θεραπόντων αὐτοῦ, δοῦναι ῥομφαίαν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ, ἀποκτεῖναι ἡμᾶς.
и҆ рѣ́ша и҆̀мъ: да ви́дитъ бг҃ъ и҆ сꙋ́дитъ ва́мъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѡ҆гнꙋси́сте дꙋ́хъ ва́шъ пред̾ фараѡ́номъ и҆ пред̾ рабы̑ є҆гѡ̀, да́ти ме́чь въ рꙋ́ки є҆гѡ̀ ᲂу҆би́ти на́съ.
And Moses turned to the Lord, and said, I pray, Lord, why hast thou afflicted this people? and wherefore hast thou sent me?
ἐπέστρεψε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον καὶ εἶπε· δέομαι, Κύριε· τί ἐκάκωσας τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον; καὶ ἱνατί ἀπέσταλκάς με;
Возврати́сѧ же мѡѷсе́й ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ и҆ речѐ: молю́тисѧ, гдⷭ҇и, почто̀ ѡ҆ѕло́билъ є҆сѝ лю́ди сїѧ̑; и҆ вскꙋ́ю посла́лъ є҆сѝ мѧ̀;
The words that Moses speaks to the Lord are not words of contumacy or indignation but of inquiry and prayer. This fact is clear from the way the Lord answered him. For he did not accuse him of infidelity but revealed what he was about to do.
Questions on Exodus 14
For from the time that I went to Pharao to speak in thy name, he has afflicted this people, and thou hast not delivered thy people.
καὶ ἀφ᾿ οὗ πεπόρευμαι πρὸς Φαραὼ λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι, ἐκάκωσε τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, καὶ οὐκ ἐρρύσω τὸν λαόν σου.
и҆ ѿне́лѣже внидо́хъ къ фараѡ́нꙋ, глаго́лати твои́мъ и҆́менемъ, (ѻ҆́нъ) ѡ҆ѕло́би лю́ди сїѧ̑, и҆ не и҆зба́вилъ є҆сѝ люді́й твои́хъ.
And after this went in Moses and Aaron to Pharao, and they said to him, These things says the Lord God of Israel, Send my people away, that they may keep a feast to me in the wilderness.
ΚΑΙ μετὰ ταῦτα εἰσῆλθε Μωυσῆς καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν πρὸς Φαραὼ καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐξαπόστειλον τὸν λαόν μου, ἵνα μοι ἑορτάσωσιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ.
И҆ по си́хъ вни́де мѡѷсе́й и҆ а҆арѡ́нъ къ фараѡ́нꙋ и҆ рѣ́ша є҆мꙋ̀: сїѧ̑ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ і҆и҃левъ: ѿпꙋстѝ лю́ди моѧ̑, да пра́здникъ сотворѧ́тъ мнѣ̀ въ пꙋсты́ни.