Exodus 11:2

2. Let every man borrow שׁאל 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,” (Exodus 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.