EXODUS 3:22 – How Could a God That is the Epitome of Love Command the Israelites to Plunder the Egyptians for Their Riches?

Nov 6, 20243 min read

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS: for Pastors, Teachers, and Believers

Exodus 3:22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and on your daughters; and you will plunder the Egyptians.”

We must look at the whole text because the reality is that Jehovah had commanded the Israelites to “ask” their neighbor. To plunder is to gain or acquire something by superior strength, generally by force. By their asking them, they would not be plundering in the sense that we understand the English equivalent, but the result is the same as if they had. Also, it should be mentioned that the Hebrew here is used in a figurative sense, as this was a request, not a forceful taking, and they received what they had asked for. Of course, it is true that the Egyptians were motivated by the ten plagues that they had just experienced at the hands of the Israelite God.

However, to address the idea of whether a loving God, who was simply using force, to free his people from slavery, was now exploiting that fear for the riches of the land, this is not the case at all. What the Israelites received was long overdue. For centuries the Israelites had been abused as slaves, working in a physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually abusive environment, for nothing more than barely enough food to exist, while the Pharaoh’s treasure house grew. In a modern-day perspective, we can just view it as the Israelites received their back pay.

DIFFICULTIES IN THE BIBLE: Alleged Errors and Contradictions

Buy Now

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).