Exodus 14:5 - The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”
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What does "Exodus 14:5" mean?
Exodus 14:5 describes Pharaoh's sudden change of heart after letting the Israelites go. Let's break it down:
"The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled...": This sets the scene. Pharaoh has given the Israelites permission to leave, and they have actually left.
"...and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people...": This is the key part. Initially, Pharaoh had agreed to let them go, likely after the devastating plagues. Now, he and his advisors have a change of heart. This suggests that they were probably motivated by short-term fear rather than genuine repentance or conviction.
"...and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”": This reveals the reason for their change of heart. They aren't concerned with the moral implications of enslaving people. Their regret is purely economic. They realize that they have lost a massive workforce that provided free labor. They're now regretting releasing their source of power and wealth.
In essence, the verse means:
Pharaoh and his officials, upon realizing the Israelites were truly gone, regretted their decision. They weren't moved by conscience or empathy; they were primarily concerned about the economic loss resulting from the departure of their free labor force. It demonstrates that Pharaoh's initial compliance was likely driven by temporary fear of divine punishment rather than a genuine change of heart. This regret then sets the stage for their pursuit of the Israelites, as they attempt to reclaim their enslaved workforce.
Exodus 14:5 - The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”
What does "Exodus 14:5" mean?
Exodus 14:5 describes Pharaoh's sudden change of heart after letting the Israelites go. Let's break it down:
"The king of Egypt was told that the people had fled...": This sets the scene. Pharaoh has given the Israelites permission to leave, and they have actually left.
"...and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people...": This is the key part. Initially, Pharaoh had agreed to let them go, likely after the devastating plagues. Now, he and his advisors have a change of heart. This suggests that they were probably motivated by short-term fear rather than genuine repentance or conviction.
"...and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?”": This reveals the reason for their change of heart. They aren't concerned with the moral implications of enslaving people. Their regret is purely economic. They realize that they have lost a massive workforce that provided free labor. They're now regretting releasing their source of power and wealth.
In essence, the verse means:
Pharaoh and his officials, upon realizing the Israelites were truly gone, regretted their decision. They weren't moved by conscience or empathy; they were primarily concerned about the economic loss resulting from the departure of their free labor force. It demonstrates that Pharaoh's initial compliance was likely driven by temporary fear of divine punishment rather than a genuine change of heart. This regret then sets the stage for their pursuit of the Israelites, as they attempt to reclaim their enslaved workforce.