God allowed it because the gold and silver were destined for the tabernacle — not to enrich Israel, but to supply the materials God would command at Sinai.
Les Feldick teaches that this was never about simply making Israel rich as they left Egypt. God's sovereign plan was already looking to Sinai, where He would instruct Israel to build the tabernacle — a structure literally filled with silver, gold, precious stones, and fine linen, all supplied by the wealth of Egypt. The KJV word 'borrowed' is unfortunate, because the Egyptians gave these things to Israel gladly, as God had caused them to do.
Exodus 12:35-36 — Records the very event in question — Israel asked the Egyptians for jewels of silver and gold, and God gave them favour so the Egyptians supplied them.
Exodus 25:8 — Reveals God's soon-coming purpose for that wealth — He wanted a sanctuary made, which Les says is why the exodus gold and silver were gathered.
In Exodus 12:35-36, the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses and asked the Egyptians for jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and raiment. The LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required, and the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians. After arriving at Sinai, God told Moses to take an offering from every man that gave it willingly with his heart, and to build a sanctuary: 'Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them' (Exodus 25:8). The materials listed for the tabernacle — gold, silver, fine linen, precious stones, and spices — are the same kinds of wealth Israel received from Egypt. Scripture also records two very different uses of that gold. In Exodus 32:3-4, Aaron took the golden earrings and fashioned a molten calf, an Egyptian-style idol. Later, in Exodus 35:22, the people willingly brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, and jewels of gold, and the wise-hearted women spun fine linen (Exodus 35:25) — materials that went into the tabernacle erected at Sinai.
Les Feldick explains that God's purpose in letting Israel take gold and silver from Egypt was never just to make the Israelites rich. As soon as they reached Sinai, God gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle, and Les notes that the tabernacle 'is just literally filled with silver and gold and precious stones, fine linen, all the wealth of Egypt.' God, he says, 'had all this in mind' when the Egyptians gave their wealth to Israel. It was 'a sovereign God who caused those Egyptians to just give of their wealth.' Les also corrects the impression created by the KJV word 'borrowed.' He calls it 'unfortunate that our translations used the word borrow,' because the Israelites were not taking these items with an obligation to return them. They asked, and the Egyptians gave them gladly. Israel did not take the wealth 'by deceit or anything like that' — rather, 'the sovereign God had laid it upon the Egyptians to just give them everything they had.' Finally, Les traces where the exodus wealth ended up. The gold, silver, oil, spices, onyx stones, and fine linen for the tabernacle all came from Egypt. Some of the gold, tragically, was melted into the golden calf while Moses was on the mount. After that judgment, the people willingly brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, and jewels of gold, and the women spun the fine cloth — all given for the tabernacle work — until the tabernacle was ready to be erected at Sinai.
Les Feldick says no. He calls the KJV word 'borrow' unfortunate, because borrowed items would normally be expected back. The Israelites were not taking these things with an obligation to return them. They simply asked the Egyptians for provisions for their journey, and the Egyptians gave them gladly. According to Les, this was not deceit on Israel's part — the sovereign God had caused the Egyptians to give of their wealth.
Les teaches that God's purpose was not to enrich Israel but to supply the materials for the tabernacle. Once Israel reached Sinai, God gave instructions to build a tabernacle filled with silver, gold, precious stones, fine linen, spices, and onyx stones. Les asks, 'Where are they going to get all this material? Where did it come from? Egypt.' God had all this in mind when He caused the Egyptians to give their wealth to Israel.
The wealth was used for the tabernacle: gold, silver, onyx stones, oil, spices, fine linen, and beautiful cloth were brought in by the people and crafted into the tabernacle, which was ready to be erected at Sinai. Tragically, some of the gold was also used in the golden calf incident — Aaron told the people to break off their golden earrings, and he melted them into a molten calf, an Egyptian god. After that judgment, the people willingly brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, and jewels of gold for the tabernacle work.
Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire
the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. In other words, He's saying you can't just pick and choose. There's only one way. Now read on. Verse 2, But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter, or the doorkeeper, openeth, and the sheep hear his voice. He calleth his own sheep by name, and he leadeth them out.
The Tabernacle Purpose & the 'Borrow' Problem
Les reveals that God's purpose in the exodus wealth was not to make Israel rich but to supply the tabernacle at Sinai, and he explains that the KJV word 'borrow' is unfortunate since the Egyptians gave gladly.
All Tabernacle Materials Came from Egypt
Les shows that the gold, silver, oil, spices, onyx stones, and fine linen for the tabernacle could only have come from Egypt — and that a sovereign God caused the Egyptians to give their wealth.
Egypt's Shambles — Not Deceit, but Sovereignty
Les explains that Israel took Egypt's wealth honestly — the sovereign God had laid it upon the Egyptians to give everything — and that Egypt was left in economic, social, and military shambles as a result.
The Gold Used for the Golden Calf
Les recounts how Aaron told the people to break off their golden earrings — gold that had come out of Egypt — to make a god, showing the idolatrous misuse of the wealth.
Aaron Melts the Earrings into a Calf
Les shows Aaron melting the earrings and fashioning a molten calf — an Egyptian god — demonstrating how the very gold from Egypt was tragically turned to idolatry.
The People Offer Jewels for the Tabernacle
Les shows that after the golden calf, the people willingly brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, and jewels of gold, and the women spun cloth — all provided for the tabernacle work.
The Tabernacle Ready to Be Erected at Sinai
Les confirms that all the gold, silver, and beautiful linen the people brought — received when they spoiled Egypt — was crafted into the tabernacle, ready to be erected at Sinai.
Exodus 12:35-36: And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And 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.
The actual exodus event — Israel asked, and God gave them favour so the Egyptians supplied the gold, silver, and raiment.
Exodus 25:8: And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
The purpose statement — God wanted a sanctuary, which is why the exodus wealth was needed at Sinai.
Exodus 32:3-4: And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
The tragic misuse — some of Egypt's gold was melted into an idol while Moses was on the mount.
Exodus 35:22: And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.
The right use — after the calf was judged, the people willingly offered their gold for the tabernacle.
Exodus 35:25: And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
The women's contribution — their spun cloth of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen was part of the tabernacle materials.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the Israelites asked the Egyptians for these provisions as they left Egypt, and the Egyptians gave them gladly. It was not taken by deceit — a sovereign God had caused the Egyptians to give of their wealth, even though the KJV translation uses the word 'borrowed.'
Les explains that God's purpose looked ahead to Sinai. As soon as Israel arrived, God instructed them to build the tabernacle, which was literally filled with the silver, gold, precious stones, and fine linen of Egypt. The wealth was not for Israel's enrichment; it was God's supply for the tabernacle.
It was used for the tabernacle — the gold, silver, onyx stones, oil, spices, and fine cloth were brought in by the people and assembled at Sinai. Some of the gold, however, was tragically melted into the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain. After that judgment, the people willingly offered their jewels for the tabernacle work.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire