THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
The Hebrews struggled to produce even a drop of saliva. As a result, the scribes among the Hebrew community were mercilessly punished by Pharaoh's officials.
Exodus 5:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And they that were over the works of the children of Israel, were scourged by Pharao's taskmasters, saying: Why have you not made up the task of bricks, both yesterday and to day, as before?
וַיֻּכּ֗וּ שֹֽׁטְרֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣מוּ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם נֹגְשֵׂ֥י פַרְעֹ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֡וּעַ לֹא֩ כִלִּיתֶ֨ם חָקְכֶ֤ם לִלְבֹּן֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּם־תְּמ֖וֹל גַּם־הַיּֽוֹם׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Wlastow G.K.
Corporal punishment was also administered to high-ranking Egyptian officials, as revealed by ancient monuments. Notably, this practice was entrusted to bailiffs, who enforced it upon the leaders of the Israelite community. The approach of using prominent figures and respected individuals from within the populace to exert control is characteristic of many Asian cultures and still persists in regions like Persia and elsewhere. The integrity of the Shoterim is underscored by their roles as scribes, indicating their literacy, and by the fact that they were recognized as leaders of Israel, as stated in verse 21.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.