Exodus 12:36 says that, on the night of the first Passover, as the Israelites were leaving Egypt, “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” (KJV). The word spoiled here means “plundered” or “stripped of belongings.” The ESV says that “they plundered the Egyptians.” It is amazing that the Israelites did not “spoil,” “plunder,” or “strip” the Egyptians by force of arms, but simply by asking! When asked, the Egyptians willingly turned over their valuables (Exodus 12:35–36).
At the burning bush, God had predicted this turn of events: “Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians” (Exodus 3:22). This had to sound absolutely impossible, as Moses’ hesitation in the next verse demonstrates (Exodus 4:1). The Israelites were slaves of the Egyptians, who had abused them for years. What oppressor willingly gives his goods to the oppressed? How are slaves going to plunder their masters?
God had promised Abraham centuries earlier that his descendants would emerge from Egypt with “great possessions” (Genesis 15:14). That is, they would spoil the Egyptians. God’s promises to Abraham and Moses were fulfilled in Exodus 12:36. After the tenth plague devastated Egypt, the Egyptians wanted to ensure God’s people left Egypt as quickly as possible (Exodus 12:33–36). If getting rid of them meant giving up their wealth, so be it. The peaceful plundering of Egypt was a remarkable fulfillment of God’s promises.
There are many lessons to be learned from the spoiling of the Egyptians. Here are a few possible application points:
By allowing His people to spoil the Egyptians, God demonstrated His sovereignty over the entire world. The same God is at work in our world today.