Why did the Egyptians give all their wealth to the Israelites before the exodus?
By the time the plagues ended, Egypt was economically and physically shattered, so the Egyptians willingly unloaded their wealth on the Israelites and urged them to leave. God had told the Israelite women to ask—not borrow—for items, and the Egyptians gave them whatever they could to send them on their way.
Les explains that in Exodus 3 God told Moses He would stretch out His hand, smite Egypt with all His wonders, and afterward the king would let Israel go. In verse 22 the word translated “borrow” should really be “ask,” because borrowing implies giving it back, and God never intended that. God simply told the women, and all Israel, to ask the Egyptians if they had something to give them to send them on their way. By the time Egypt had gone through the plagues and was in shambles economically, physically, and every other way, the Egyptians literally unloaded all their wealth on the Israelites, saying, “Just get out of here. Get going.” God also had something else on His mind beyond merely making the Jews wealthy.
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
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.
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.