Exodus 12:35-36
The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that the Israelites acted exactly as Moses instructed, not just in leaving, but in their actions towards the Egyptians, demonstrating their obedience extended beyond the immediate command to depart. This detailed instruction and execution, including asking for gifts, shows God's meticulous planning for their departure, even in providing for them materially.
Just moments before, the terrifying tenth plague—the death of every firstborn Egyptian—had struck. In their panic and grief, the Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave immediately. Following Moses' instructions, the people of Israel asked the Egyptians for items of silver, gold, and clothing, and the Egyptians readily gave them these things.
Did Israel 'borrow' or 'take' from the Egyptians? This verse describes a pivotal moment of divine justice, not just a casual request.
The Hebrew word translated here as 'borrowed' actually carries the primary meaning of 'to ask,' 'to demand,' or 'to require.' The context of Exodus makes it clear that this wasn't a loan to be repaid. For generations, the Israelites had been enslaved, their labor exploited without pay. God, in His justice, orchestrated this 'taking' as full compensation for their years of forced, unpaid labor. The Egyptians, desperate for the Israelites to leave, readily granted their requests. What appears on the surface as borrowing is, in reality, God's just recompense for immense suffering and injustice.
This wasn't theft; it was righteous retribution. God ensured His people left not empty-handed, but with the wealth that rightfully should have been theirs.
Israel's exit wasn't just a mass exodus; it was a carefully orchestrated event that included a surprising act of obedience to Moses's specific instructions.
This verse highlights two crucial elements: divine favor and Israel's obedience. 'The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them...' shows their faithfulness to the instructions God had given through Moses. This wasn't a spontaneous act but a planned execution of God's command.
Furthermore, the context reveals that God 'gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians' (Exodus 12:36). This favor was essential. It meant the Egyptians were not only willing to let the Israelites go but were also amenable to their requests for valuables. It was a combination of Israel acting precisely as instructed and God working in the hearts of their oppressors that led to this moment of material compensation and liberation.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A general term for the descendants of Jacob; they are identified as the covenant people chosen by God for His redemptive purposes.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing His self-existence and faithfulness to His people.
chen · Hebrew Noun
Grace, acceptance, or goodwill shown by one person to another, often implying an unmerited positive disposition.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To take spoil or loot from an enemy; in this context, it represents the just compensation for centuries of forced labor.
This verse highlights a pivotal moment of transition, where the wealth of Egypt, accumulated through generations of Israelite labor, is transferred to the Israelites. This wasn't a theft, but a divinely orchestrated repayment and provision for their journey and future, driven by the Egyptians' desperate haste to be rid of the Israelites.
~1525-1475 BC
Israelites Settle in Egypt
Following Joseph's rise to power, the Israelites settle in the fertile land of Goshen within Egypt. Their population grows significantly over generations.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues
God sends ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. The final plague involves the death of all firstborn Egyptian males.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Pharaoh Urges Israelites to Leave
Devastated by the final plague, Pharaoh and the Egyptians urgently press the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately, fearing they will all die.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites 'Ask' for Egyptian Wealth
As instructed by Moses, the Israelites request silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians. The Egyptians, eager to see them gone, readily give these valuable items.
This passage provides the initial instruction from God to Moses, setting the stage for the Israelites to 'ask' the Egyptians for silver and gold, which is directly fulfilled in Exodus 12:35. It highlights that this was a divine directive, not a deceptive act.
Exodus 11:2-3These verses show God instructing the people to 'ask' for articles of silver and gold and clothing from their neighbors before the final plague. This directly explains the action taken in Exodus 12:35 and emphasizes the divine orchestration of the event.
Psalm 105:37This psalm recounts the Exodus narrative and explicitly states, 'He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was no infirmity among his tribes.' This serves as a theological interpretation of Exodus 12:35, confirming the divine provision and legitimacy of taking these riches.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' teaching to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' resonates here by showing that even in acquiring material wealth (like the Israelites asking for jewelry), obedience to God's command and kingdom priorities were paramount.
2 Corinthians 4:4Paul refers to the 'god of this age' blinding the minds of unbelievers, which sheds light on why the Egyptians were willing to give their wealth. Their spiritual blindness, orchestrated by God for Israel's deliverance, made them susceptible to this request.
gillExodus 12:35: "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:"
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses,.... Exodus 3:22 . and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; or "they asked" (a) them of the Egyptians to give them them, which they readily did to get rid of them; for upon their being urgent with the Israelites to be gone in h…
cambridgeExodus 12:35: "And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:"
35 . did &c.] had done …, and asked ,—before viz. the events just narrated ( vv. 29–34). Cf. Exodus 11:3 . 35, 36 . Carrying out of the instructions given in Exodus 3:21-22 (cf. Exodus 11:2 ).
The verse highlights that the Israelites acted exactly as Moses instructed, not just in leaving, but in their actions towards the Egyptians, demonstrating their obedience extended beyond the immediate command to depart. This detailed instruction and execution, including asking for gifts, shows God's meticulous planning for their departure, even in providing for them materially.
Just moments before, the terrifying tenth plague—the death of every firstborn Egyptian—had struck. In their panic and grief, the Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave immediately. Following Moses' instructions, the people of Israel asked the Egyptians for items of silver, gold, and clothing, and the Egyptians readily gave them these things.
Just moments before, the terrifying tenth plague—the death of every firstborn Egyptian—had struck. In their panic and grief, the Egyptians urged the Israelites to leave immediately. Following Moses' instructions, the people of Israel asked the Egyptians for items of silver, gold, and clothing, and the Egyptians readily gave them these things.
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c. 1446 BC
The Exodus Begins
The Israelites, numbering about 600,000 men plus women, children, and a mixed multitude, depart from Rameses towards Succoth, beginning their journey out of Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
The Passover Instituted
To commemorate their liberation and the judgment on Egypt, God institutes the Passover feast, a solemn observance to be remembered by all future generations of Israelites.
"The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what th…" — The verse highlights that the Israelites acted exactly as Moses instructed, not just in leaving, but in their actions towards the Egyptians, demonstrating their obedience extended beyond the immedi…
