Exodus 12:35

They borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, &c.— This was the immediate command of God himself, ch. Exodus 3:22 and, therefore, we might reasonably conclude, could not be any act of injustice, as proceeding from the great Fountain of right and truth: and, perhaps, the only reason which has caused such a suspicion, is the giving the improper idea of borrowing to the original word, שׁאל sheal, which strictly and properly signifies to ask, demand, or require, as the best expositors have fully shewn: and it appears, that the temper of the Egyptians was such at the time of the departure of the Israelites, that they were very ready to grant their requests, and to comply with all their demands; which, their own consciences must have assured them, were just and equitable; as the Israelites had the fairest claim to a full retribution for all the hardships they had suffered, and for all the services they had done in Egypt for the space of a hundred and forty years. It has been observed, that this passage of Scripture, thus rightly understood, reflects a beauty on the Divine conduct, and is a proof of the sacred inspiration of the Pentateuch; for, it being evident that the people did not borrow the jewels, but asked the Egyptians to give them, and did accordingly receive them as presents; this particularly manifests the glory and goodness of Jehovah, who gives his own people favour in the eyes of their greatest enemies, and causes them to receive the most generous instances of respect from a people, among whom they had been so long enslaved and so ill treated. The original word, which we render jewels, would be rendered more properly vessels.