Exodus 3:22, commentary and pictures

This promise was given in God's call to Moses at the beginning of his mission to bring Israel out of bondage from Egypt. God would give Israel favor in the sight of the Egyptians through His powerful works and miracles of deliverance, so that Israel would not leave Egypt empty-handed. Every woman was to ask for or borrow from her neighbor and from her that sojourned in her house jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and put them upon her sons and upon her daughters, and in this way spoil the Egyptians.

The neighbor and her that sojourned in her house means the Egyptian set over the Israelites to enforce their daily labor and to see that they performed a set amount each day. The miracles of deliverance would so impress and frighten the oppressors that the requests for valuables would be granted. Taking the goods was right because it was recompense for years of labor unjustly taken, since the Egyptians had enslaved Israel when they were not slaves and had no right to their labor.

The Egyptians had allowed Israel only food for sustenance while enriching themselves from extorted work and crushing Israel with heavy burdens until God acted and interposed in their behalf. Even if the amount taken was large, it was only a small payment and small recompense for the hard labor that had enriched Egypt. The silver, gold, and clothing were needed for the long journey, to trade for bread and to use as need and circumstances required.