Definition: And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 5:3. It's a really important passage about a significant event in Israel’s history. Here’s what it means, explained simply: The Basic Situation: The Hebrews are in a difficult situation: The Israelites were camped at Mount Horeb (a rocky mountain) after the Exodus from Egypt. They were facing a huge threat – a plague of locusts! Locusts were devastating their crops and threatening to kill them. They’re desperate for a solution: The leaders of the Israelites were worried about being attacked by pests. What they did: They asked for a special ritual: They pleaded with God to come to their aid, to protect them from danger. They requested three days' journey: This was a huge commitment – they had to travel three days’ distance into the desert. They were instructed to sacrifice to God: Finally, they were told they needed to offer a sacrifice to God . What it means – The Core Message: This verse speaks about a moment of profound trust and recognition of God's power and protection. It’s essentially saying: “We understand that God is in control, and we need to show our respect and faith by offering something to Him.” “The God of the Hebrews hath met with us” : This means that God has already been involved in their lives and has shown up to help them. It’s a declaration of God's presence and power. "Let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert…" : They were willing to endure this long journey – it was a significant commitment on their part. It shows they were willing to trust in God’s plan even when things seemed very difficult. The word “pray thee” is a plea or request directed at God. "and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword." : This is the crucial part. They were offering a sacrifice to God to protect themselves from harm – specifically, from disease and death (pestilence). It’s a plea for divine protection. In simpler terms: The Israelites were facing a terrifying threat (the locusts) and asked for God's help. They took a long and difficult journey into the desert to offer a sacrifice to show their faith and trust in God's protection. Why is this important? This verse is considered one of the earliest examples of a covenant – a binding agreement between humans and God. It demonstrates the Israelites’ recognition that they needed God’s help to overcome adversity and that they were willing to submit to His will. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to other stories or biblical themes? Discuss its significance in the context of the Exodus story?