In the law of Moses, the people of God were promised rest in the land if they were obedient to God. On the other hand, one of the consequences of disobedience would be the lack of rest.1 The expression our pursuers are at our necks
could be understood as saying that people were driven hard. It may refer to harsh punishment, hard manual labour, or both. It is also clear from this verse that their conquerors were unsympathetic in this hard labour. They were pressed beyond their physical limits. They were given no break from their physical labour, and therefore no rest.2
5 Nous sommes poursuivis, le joug sur le cou; Nous sommes épuisés, nous n'avons point de repos.