Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 12:36
And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them [such things as they required]. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
36. let them have ] lit. let them ask (viz. successfully), i.e. granted them, let them have, not necessarily ‘lent’ them. So Exo 1Sa 1:28 (lit. ‘ let one ask him for Jehovah ’), correlative of ‘ask’ in vv. 17, 27, as of the same word here in v. 35. Still, it is remarkable that the ordinary word for ‘gave’ is not used: and it cannot be denied that ‘let ask’ may, as in Syriac (Luk 11:5 Pesh.), have had in Heb. the meaning lend. In this case, we must suppose that the things were ‘lent’ for use at the festival in the wilderness; Pharaoh’s subsequent pursuit of the Israelites put their return out of the question, and so they ‘spoiled’ the Egyptians (Ewald, Hist. ii. 66). Dillm. writes: ‘In reality the fundamental idea of the narrative is this: God, in His contest for the oppressed and against the oppressor, brings it about by His judgements that the enemy is obliged not only to allow the people to hold their festival in the wilderness, but also at their request to provide them willingly with garments and ornaments to wear at it (cf. on Exo 3:21 f.); and eventually even to give these things up to them, as lawful spoil, and also, probably, as a reward for long and hard service (so Jubilees 48:18, Philo, Vit. Mos. i. p. 103, Clem. Al. Strom. i. p. 345, Iren. iv. 49, and other Fathers), and as partial compensation for what the Hebrews left behind them in Egypt.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Lent – Or gave. The word in the Hebrew means simply granted their request. Whether the grant is made as a loan, or as a gift, depends in every instance upon the context. Here the word spoiled ought to be regarded as conclusive that the grant was a gift, a moderate remuneration for long service, and a compensation for cruel wrongs.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, i.e. inclined their hearts to do it willingly, and not only out of fear.
So that they lent unto him; Heb. and they lent them, to wit, the jewels or vessels mentioned Exo 12:35.
They spoiled the Egyptians, to wit, of their ornaments.
Quest. Was not this unjustly done of the Israelites to borrow these jewels which they never paid again?
Answ. No,
1. Because they did nothing in this matter but by Gods appointment, Exo 11:1,2; so that if there be any injustice, it must be in God, in whom there neither can be in any thing, nor is in this thing, the least blot or shadow of injustice, as well because he hath an unquestionable right in and power to dispose of all persons and things, as being the Maker, and Giver, and Lord of all; as because there was great and evident reason both why the Israelites should be recompensed for all their hard labours and sufferings, and why the Egyptians should be spoiled for their idolatry, luxury, and cruelty to the Israelites, and the great benefits which they had received from Joseph, and from the service of the Israelites.
2. Because the supreme Lord of all forbad them to restore what they borrowed, and gave them the entire right and sole propriety therein.
3. Because though there was a form and appearance of borrowing and lending, yet indeed the Israelites did not so much borrow as desire, as the Hebrew word rendered borrow Exo 12:35 signifies; and the Egyptians did not reckon these thing; as lent, and to be restored, but as given, and never to be expected again; even as Pharaoh and his people rightly judged, that if the Israelites were once permitted to go out of the land with their whole families and estates, they would never return again, Exo 14:5. And in truth the Egyptians did and might esteem it a good bargain to give these things to redeem their lives, and to engage the Israelites to a speedy departure, knowing that otherwise both their persons and all their estates were in extreme hazard.
4. Because, if these jewels were properly borrowed, yet the Egyptians, by their causeless and hostile pursuit after the Israelites with intent to destroy them, did fully discharge them from all obligations to restitution, and give them a right not only to keep these goods, but to take ally other which they could from the Egyptians, according to the known and approved laws of war.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. the Lord gave the people favourin the sight of the EgyptiansSuch a dread of them was inspiredinto the universal minds of the Egyptians, that whatever they askedwas readily given.
spoiled the EgyptiansTheaccumulated earnings of many years being paid them at this moment,the Israelites were suddenly enriched, according to the promise madeto Abraham (Ge 15:14), and theyleft the country like a victorious army laden with spoil (Psa 105:37;Eze 39:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians,…. Their minds were disposed towards them, and their hearts were inclined to grant their request, and did grant it:
so they lent unto them: such things as they required; or “they gave unto them” b; made presents of them freely to them; and so Josephus says c, that they honoured them with gifts:
and they spoiled the Egyptians; stripped them of their substance and riches, of their most valuable things; in doing which they were in no wise criminal, since they did it by the direction and authority of God, who has a right to dispose of all the things in the world; and to take of them from one, and give to another, as he pleases; nor was any injustice done to the Egyptians, who owed all this, and perhaps abundantly more, to the Israelites, for the labour and service they had served them in for many years; besides, they were the avowed enemies of Israel, and the Lord had now put himself at the head of the armies of Israel, and was contending with them, and they with him, who should overcome; and this was doing no other than what, acceding to the law of nations, is lawful to be done in time of war; to spoil, plunder, and distress an enemy, in whatsoever way it can be done. And thus the promise made to Abraham, that his posterity should come out with great substance, was fulfilled, Ge 15:14. This circumstance is taken notice of by some Heathen writers, as Artapanus d; who says they borrowed many cups of the Egyptians, and not a little raiment, besides a great quantity of other treasure and riches; and so Ezekiel the tragedian e speaks of a vast deal of gold and silver, raiment, and other things, the Israelitish women had of the Egyptians at their departure, and who relates the history of Moses and the above plagues very agreeably to the sacred writings.
b “ut petita darent”, Tigurine version, “ut dederint”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth, Cartwright. c Antiqu. l. 2. c. 14. sect. 6. d Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 436. e Apud Euseb. ib. c. 29. p. 443.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(36) They lent.Rather, they, gave. It is that the Egyptians neither expected nor wished the Israelites to return.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 12:36. They spoiled the Egyptians So long ago as in the time of Abraham, this event had been foretold, Gen 15:14. See Psa 105:37. See also Waterland’s Scripture vindicated, par. 2: p. 9.
REFLECTIONS.Observe,
1. Heavy the dreadful stroke descends. At midnight the destroyer comes: one awful groan awakens every family, and one united dolorous cry echoes through the land. What guilty sinner need not tremble at the thought of such a dread surprise? He that closes his eyes each night upon his bed in unrepented sin, is in danger of lifting them up before morning in the torments of hell.
2. Pharaoh hastens to thrust them out. Death is at his door: he trembles for himself; at midnight they must be gone; he cannot rest till they have departed: and now he seeks their blessing, whom late with imprecations he had driven from his presence on pain of death. Note; The day is coming, when men will value the prayers of those whom once they reviled. Pharaoh’s people are in the same mind. The death which had begun, strikes them with a panic, lest it should be universal. Note; Nothing shocks a sinner so much, as near views of death: but whether they see it or no, every impenitent sinner is a dead man.
3. To get rid of their company, the Egyptians are glad to part with their gold, their jewels, and vessels. When life is at stake, our goods appear insignificant things. Israel thus, as servants, receive their wages; and, as conquerors, divide the spoil. It was a high act of justice from God, and they had his special order for their proceedings.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Compare this with Gen 46:27 then calculate the distance of time between those periods, not more than 200 years, and observe how the Lord’s promise to Abraham was fulfilling. If the number of women and children were both together equal to the men, then were there no less an army that went up out of Egypt than twelve hundred thousand: beside the mixed multitude of strangers which accompanied them.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them [such things as they required]. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Ver. 36. Spoiled the Egyptians. ] See Trapp on “ Exo 8:2 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lent = gladly gave. Hebrew verb is in the Hiphil mood and = caused them to ask, i.e. the Egyptians pressed them to take.
such things, &c. There is no need for this addition. No Ellipsis in Hebrew
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Lord: Exo 3:21, Exo 11:3, Gen 39:21, Pro 16:7, Dan 1:9, Act 2:47, Act 7:10
they spoiled: Exo 3:22, Gen 15:14, Psa 105:37
Reciprocal: Gen 30:39 – brought forth Exo 11:2 – borrow Exo 32:2 – General 2Ch 20:25 – they found Job 20:10 – his hands Psa 74:14 – meat Ecc 3:6 – time to get Eze 39:10 – shall spoil Rev 12:16 – General