Israel Borrowing of the Egyptians.
By Carpenter
AND I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: but every woman shall borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. Exodus iii, 21, 22. From chap. xii, 35, 36, we learn that the Israelites complied with the injunction here given; and as our version reads, "they spoiled the Egyptians." This narrative has given rise to several objections; the conduct of the Israelites has been characterized as ungenerous, dishonest; and as it was induced by the command of God, unbelievers have not been sparing in their remarks upon that also. It may be confidently affirmed, however, that the texts, properly understood, are open to no objection, and that the command, and the compliance therewith, may be shown to be perfectly just. In the first place the Hebrew word, which our translators have rendered borrow, simply signifies to ask, to require, to demand. In the three passages relative to the transaction, (chap. iii; 22; xi. 2; xii. 35) the Septuagint has shall ask; and in the two former, the Vulgate has, shall demand; and so, indeed, it was in the English Bible, till the edition of Becke, in 1549; Geneva, Baker's and some others, having asked. The injunction, therefore, was, that the children of Israel should ask or demand of the Egyptians a recompense for their past services; or, it may be a restoration only of that property of which they had been despoiled. It seems manifest, as Mr. Bryant has suggested, from the expression used in chap. xii. 33, "They sent them out of the land in haste," that the Egyptians never expected or wished for the return of the Israelites; and, consequently, they could not expect the return of the jewels and raiment.—Carpenter.