What exactly were the Israelites told to ask the Egyptians for in Exodus 3:22?
In Exodus 3:22 the Israelites, especially the women, were not told to borrow but to ask the Egyptians for whatever they had to give them. God intended no return; the Egyptians were to send them on their way, ultimately unloading their wealth on Israel.
Les explains that Exodus 3:22 contains a statement he wants to clarify. He notes the text says “Every woman shall borrow,” but says it is unfortunate the translators did this. All the commentaries and scholars he has read agree the word should be “ask” (A-S-K), not “borrow,” because borrow implies they would have it and then give it back, which God never intended. Instead, God told the women and all Israel to ask the Egyptians if they had something to give them to send them on their way. After the plagues, Egypt was in shambles economically, physically, and every other way, and the Egyptians literally unloaded all their wealth on the Israelites, saying, “Just get out of here. Get going.”
But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
More Questions
What exactly did God tell the Israelite women to ask the Egyptians for?
God's instruction was for the Israelite women—and all Israel—not to borrow, but to ask the Egyptians whether they had something to give them to send them on their way.
Why should Exodus 3:22 be translated 'ask' instead of 'borrow'?
The word translated as 'borrow' in Exodus 3:22 should actually be translated 'ask', because the word 'borrow' implies that the Israelites would have to give the items back, and God never intended that.
Why did the Egyptians give their wealth to the Israelites when Israel left Egypt?
By the time Egypt had gone through the plagues, it was in economic, physical, and every other kind of ruin, so the Egyptians unloaded all their wealth on the Israelites and basically told them to get going.