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Exodus 5:15 - Slaves plead to Pharaoh: Why?

Exodus 5:15 - שמות 5:15

Hebrew Text

וַיָּבֹאוּ שֹׁטְרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר לָמָּה תַעֲשֶׂה כֹה לַעֲבָדֶיךָ׃

English Translation

Then the officers of the children of Yisra᾽el came and cried to Par῾o, saying, Why dost thou deal thus with thy servants?

Transliteration

Vayavo'u shotrei bnei Yisra'el vayitz'aku el-Par'oh lemor lama ta'aseh koh la'avadecha.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃
וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֧מָּה תַעֲשֶׂ֦ה כֹ֖ה לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in Shemot (Exodus) 5:15

This verse appears during the early stages of the Jewish people's enslavement in Mitzrayim (Egypt), when Pharaoh increased their workload by withholding straw while demanding the same quota of bricks. The officers—appointed as Jewish intermediaries between the enslaved people and their Egyptian taskmasters—approached Pharaoh in desperation.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Shemot 5:15) notes that the officers were Jewish officers, not Egyptians, as they refer to themselves as Pharaoh's "servants." He explains their plea as a protest against the impossible demands: "Why do you deal thus with your servants?" implies that Pharaoh's decree was unjust, as they were physically unable to meet the new requirements.

Ibn Ezra's Insight

Ibn Ezra highlights the officers' courage in confronting Pharaoh directly. Despite their subordinate status, they protested the cruelty of the decree, demonstrating their responsibility toward their fellow Jews. Their cry was not just about labor but an appeal to basic justice.

Midrashic Perspective

The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:20) elaborates that the officers were righteous leaders who risked their lives by protesting. Their words, "Why do you deal thus with your servants?", carry a subtle rebuke—Pharaoh had violated the unwritten covenant of servitude by making demands beyond human capacity.

Rambam on Leadership

Rambam (Hilchot Sanhedrin 25:1) derives from this episode that leaders must advocate for their people, even at personal risk. The officers' plea exemplifies the Torah's expectation that those in authority must stand up against oppression.

Key Lessons

  • Advocacy: Leaders must intercede for their community, even before hostile rulers.
  • Moral Protest: The officers' words model how to challenge injustice with dignity.
  • Divine Plan: This escalation of suffering was part of Hashem's design to hasten the redemption (Shemot Rabbah 5:22).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the Israelite officers cry out to Pharaoh in Exodus 5:15?
A: The Israelite officers cried out to Pharaoh because he had increased their workload by requiring them to gather their own straw for bricks while maintaining the same quota (Exodus 5:7-14). Rashi explains that they protested this impossible demand, showing how Pharaoh's oppression intensified before the Exodus.
Q: What does Exodus 5:15 teach us about standing up to oppression?
A: Exodus 5:15 shows that even under harsh oppression, it is proper to protest injustice. The Midrash teaches that the officers' cry was the first step toward redemption, demonstrating that speaking up against wrongdoing is a Jewish value, even when facing powerful oppressors.
Q: Why does the verse say 'your servants' when addressing Pharaoh?
A: The officers called themselves 'your servants' because they were still under Pharaoh's authority at this time. Ramban explains that they used respectful language despite their suffering, following the principle of showing basic respect even to wicked rulers, as long as it doesn't compromise Torah values.