Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 11:2
Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
Every man – In Exo 3:22 only women were named; the command is more explicit when the time has come for its execution.
Borrow – ask. See Exo 3:22 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Let every man borrow] For a proper correction of the strange mistranslation of the word shaal in this verse, See Clarke on Ex 3:22.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Israelites, who at first lived distinctly by when they themselves, were greatly multiplied, and Pharaoh began to cast a jealous eye upon them, and to take cruel counsels against them, were more mixed with the Egyptians, as appears from Exo 12:12,13, and many other places, either by their own choice, that they might receive protection and sustenance from them; or rather by Pharaohs design, who planted many of his own people among them to watch and chastise them, Exo 1:11; and, it may be, removed some of them from Goshen to the parts adjoining to it, which were inhabited by his people. Jewels, or vessels, as the Hebrew word properly signifies; for they might more plausibly ask, and the Egyptians would with less suspicion lend them vessels, which might be proper and useful, both for their sacrifices and feasts, than jewels, for which they had no present need or use.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2, 3. Speak now in the ears of thepeopleThese verses, describing the communication which hadbeen made in private to Moses, are inserted here as a parenthesis,and will be considered (Ex 12:35).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Speak now in the ears of the people,…. This cannot be understood of the whole body of the people being gathered together, but of some of the principal ones, who should communicate it to others, and so from one to another, until all the heads and masters of families became acquainted with it:
and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold; to ornament themselves with at the feast they were going to keep: the Samaritan and Septuagint versions add, and clothing or raiment, and such it is certain they did borrow, Ex 12:35 or vessels p of different forms, made of gold and silver, such as were fit and proper to be used at sacrifices and feasts, and which will account for the vessels given by princes, Nu 7:1 for the doing of which the divine authority was sufficient; though there seems to be a reason for it in justice, that they might be paid for their hard service they had been made to serve for so many years, without having a proper reward for it: the word may be rendered, “let every man ask”, c.
p Sept. “vasa”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator, Drusius “instrumenta”, Junius & Tremellius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In this way Jehovah would overcome the resistance of Pharaoh; and even more than that, for Moses was to tell the people to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, for Jehovah would make them willing to give. The renown acquired by Moses through his miracles in Egypt would also contribute to this. (For the discussion of this subject, see Exo 3:21-22.) The communication of these instructions to the people is not expressly mentioned; but it is referred to in Exo 12:35-36, as having taken place.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2. Speak now in the ears of the people. He repeats His command as to spoiling the Egyptians, of which mention was made in the third chapter, for it was not enough for God to rescue His people from that cruel tyranny under which their wretched lives were scarcely protracted in great poverty and distress, unless He also enriched them with large possessions, as if they were carrying away the prizes of victory from conquered enemies. This, therefore, was the consummation of His otherwise extraordinary bounty, that they departed splendidly adorned, (133) and laden with precious furniture. We have already explained how it was lawful for the Israelites to take away with them the golden and silver vessels under pretext of borrowing them. (134) Surely the sole authority of God absolves them from the accusation of theft and sinful deception. But it cannot be permitted to any mortal man to censure or cavil at anything in the commandment of God; not only because His decree is above all laws, but because His most perfect will is the rule of all laws. For neither therefore is God unanswerable to law, because: he delights in uncontrollable power; but because in the perfection of His infinite justice there is no need of law. But although the excuse which some allege is not altogether without show of reason, viz., that the very severe labors which the Egyptians had tyrannically exacted were worthy of some reward, and therefore that God had justly permitted His people to exact the compensation of which they would have been otherwise unjustly defrauded, still there is no necessity for having recourse to these subtleties; for that principle, which we have elsewhere laid down, ought to be sufficient, that God, in whose hands are the ends of the earth, to destroy and to overturn at His will its kingdoms, and to change the government of its nations, much more (has the right) so to distribute the wealth and possessions of individuals, as to enrich some and to reduce others to want.
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The rich and poor meet together, (says Solomon:) the Lord is maker of them all,” (Pro 22:2😉
by which words he means that the providence of God rules in the various mixing together of poor and rich. But if theft be the taking away of what is another’s, those things which it has pleased God to transfer to His own people, must not be counted the property of others. But if by the laws of war it be permitted to the victors to gather up the spoil of the enemy, why should we consider it less allowable for God to do so from the Egyptians, whom He had overcome in ten illustrious battles, before He compelled them to surrender? As to the pretense of borrowing, the reply is easy, for the Israelitish women did not lie when they asked for the vessels for the purpose of sacrifice: since God had thus commanded, in whose power it was afterwards to devote them to other uses. Still part of them were dedicated to the sanctuary, as we shall see elsewhere; for besides the altar, the censer, and the candlestick, and other vessels of that kind, each of the tribes offered vials and dishes of great value. Yet must we recollect that a particular case is here related, imitation of which, without God’s special command, would be wrong.
(133) “Chargez de bagues, meubles, et vaisselles precieuses;” laden with rings, furniture, and precious vessels. — Fr.
(134) See notes on chap. 3:22.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Let every man borrow.See the comment on Exo. 3:22. The directions to ask the Egyptians for presents is extended here from the women alone to both women and men. Egyptian obduracy and Israelitish loss through some of the plagues may have caused the enlargement of the original instruction.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Let every man borrow ask, demand, ( Septuagint, Vulgate, Luther, De Wette, Ewald, Knobel .) See on chap . 52:22 . Of course the Egyptians could have expected no return of the gold and silver, when they urged them to go wholly out of the land . This was no “borrowing” or purloining, but these “spoils” were gifts obtained by moral constraint . The terror-stricken Egyptians were glad to give them any thing so they would but go in peace . If this despoiling the Egyptians were not so particularly described we should find much difficulty in accounting for the quantity of gold and jewelry which we find in the possession of the Hebrews when they went out of servitude . A large amount of gold was used in the manufacture of the calf in Horeb; and, after this idol had been destroyed, we find the men and women bringing freewill offerings of “bracelets, and earrings, and (signet) rings, and tablets, (necklaces,) all jewels of gold,” (Exo 35:22,) for the ornamentation and furnishing of the tabernacle, whose beams were all plated with gold, and all whose vessels were gold . It would be hard to account for such an extraordinary amount of the precious metal in the possession of a nation just emerged from bondage were not this unusual means of supply set before us . It was fit that the oppressor who had so long luxuriated on their unrequited toil should repay; it was proper that they should go in festal attire to Jehovah’s feast; and it was the crown of their triumph that the Egyptians willingly loaded them with their costly garments and jewels, freely bidding them go, and praying, Bless us also.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 11:2. Let every man borrow, &c. See note on ch. Exo 12:35.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
By borrowing we may understand, without straining the expression, accepting those presents to which their long servitude had justly entitled them. Psa_105:37; Psa_106:46 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 11:2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
Ver. 2. Borrow of his neighbour. ] This was an extraordinary command, and may not be made a precedent but in the same case, and upon the same warrant. The Lawgiver only can dispense with his own law. Ordinarily it is “the wicked” that “borroweth, and payeth not again.” Psa 37:21
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew ‘ish (App-14.
borrow = ask. See note on Exo 3:22.
jewels: or articles, or vessels.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
borrow: Exo 3:22, Exo 12:1, Exo 12:2, Exo 12:35, Exo 12:36, Gen 31:9, Job 27:16, Job 27:17, Psa 24:1, Psa 105:37, Pro 13:22, Hag 2:8, Mat 20:15
jewels: Exo 32:2-4, Exo 32:24, Exo 35:22, Eze 16:10-13
Reciprocal: Gen 24:53 – jewels
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 11:2. Let every man ask (not borrow!) of his neighbour The Israelites, who at first lived distinctly by themselves, when they were greatly multiplied, and Pharaoh began to cast a jealous eye upon them, and to take cruel counsels against them, were more mixed with the Egyptians, as appears from Exo 12:12-13, and many other passages; and this either by their own choice, that they might receive protection and sustenance from them; or rather by Pharaohs design, who placed many of his own people among them to watch and chastise them, (Exo 1:12,) and perhaps removed some of them from Goshen to the parts adjoining, which were inhabited by his people. Jewels of silver, or vessels, as the Hebrew word , chelee, properly signifies. For they might plausibly ask, and the Egyptians would more readily give them vessels, which might be both proper and useful for their sacrifices and feasts, than jewels, for which they had neither present need nor use. This was the last day of their servitude, when they were to go away, and their masters, who had abused them in their work, would now have defrauded them of their wages, and have sent them away empty; and the poor Israelites were so fond of liberty that they themselves would have been satisfied with that without pay: but he that executeth righteousness and judgment for the oppressed, provided that the labourers should not lose their hire. God ordered them to demand it now at their departure, in vessels of silver and vessels of gold; to prepare for which, God had now made the Egyptians as willing to part with them upon any terms, as before the Egyptians had made them willing to go upon any terms.