Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 5:15

"Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?" — Exodus 5:15 (ASV)

The officers ... came and cried unto Pharaoh. —The Egyptian monarchs were accessible to all. It was a part of their duty to hear complaints personally; and they, for the most part, devoted to this employment the earlier hours of each day . Those who came to them generally cried to them for justice, as is the Eastern custom.