וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה׃ (פ)
Musa menyampaikan hal itu kepada orang Israel, tetapi mereka tidak mendengarkan Musa karena sesak napas mereka dan karena perbudakan yang berat.
Midrash Tanchuma
Therefore, say unto the children of Israel: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out” (Exod. 6:6). The word therefore implies that an oath was involved, as it is said: Therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli (I Sam. 3:14). Moses went to them and told them what the Holy One, blessed be He, had said: And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they harkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit and for cruel bondage (Exod. 6:9). Whereupon Moses turned to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Behold, the children of Israel have not harkened unto me (ibid., v. 12). And the Lord said to Moses: “Go in, say unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go” (ibid., v. 11). A proverb states: “There is no benefit to be derived from acacia wood except when it is cut down.”4An old proverb indicating that one must wait until an episode is concluded to learn the result. “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
R. Yehudah b. Betheira says: It is written (Exodus 6:9) "And they would not hearken to Moses (as to G–d's delivering them), for shortness of spirit, etc." Now is there anyone who is given glad tidings and does not rejoice? (viz. Jeremiah 20:14) "A son has been born to you — Rejoice him!" His Master is freeing him from bondage and he does not rejoice? What, then, is the intent of "And they would not hearken to Moses, etc."? It was difficult for them to abandon their idolatry, viz. (Ezekiel 20:7) "And I said to them (in Egypt): Let every man cast away the detestations of his eyes and not defile himself with the idols of Egypt." This is the intent of (Exodus 6:13) "And the L–rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and He charged them to the children of Israel. He charged them to abandon idolatry.
Shemot Rabbah
“Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they did not heed Moses because of lack of spirit, and because of hard labor” (Exodus 6:9).
“Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they did not heed Moses…” It was difficult for them to forsake idol worship. So explains Ezekiel and says: “Each man, cast away the detestable objects of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:7). See what is written: “Each man did not cast away his detestable objects and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:8).
“Come speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he will let the children of Israel go out of his land” (Exodus 6:11).
“Come speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt.” The parable says: “From the acacia tree there is pleasure only when it is cut.” “Moses spoke [vayedaber] before the Lord [saying: Behold, the children of Israel did not heed me. How will Pharaoh heed me, as I have obstructed lips?”] (Exodus 6:12). 15Perhaps Moses is saying to God that only if he approaches Pharaoh forcefully [dabar] will it work, in accordance with the parable. Or perhaps the parable is a response to Moses’s statement that Pharaoh will not listen to his speech. In any case, speech is irrelevant since Pharaoh will permit the people to go only after he is broken with plagues.
“Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they did not heed Moses…” It was difficult for them to forsake idol worship. So explains Ezekiel and says: “Each man, cast away the detestable objects of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:7). See what is written: “Each man did not cast away his detestable objects and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt” (Ezekiel 20:8).
“Come speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he will let the children of Israel go out of his land” (Exodus 6:11).
“Come speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt.” The parable says: “From the acacia tree there is pleasure only when it is cut.” “Moses spoke [vayedaber] before the Lord [saying: Behold, the children of Israel did not heed me. How will Pharaoh heed me, as I have obstructed lips?”] (Exodus 6:12). 15Perhaps Moses is saying to God that only if he approaches Pharaoh forcefully [dabar] will it work, in accordance with the parable. Or perhaps the parable is a response to Moses’s statement that Pharaoh will not listen to his speech. In any case, speech is irrelevant since Pharaoh will permit the people to go only after he is broken with plagues.