Exodus 11:2
“Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.””
What does Exodus 11:2 mean?
God tells Moses to have the Israelites ask their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold jewelry before leaving Egypt. This might sound like an odd instruction, but it made practical sense: the Israelites were leaving as enslaved people with nothing, and God was ensuring they wouldn't depart empty-handed. The Egyptians, having just experienced devastating plagues, were willing to give generously to see the Hebrew people go. What looks like a simple request for borrowed items was actually God's way of providing for his people's needs as they stepped into freedom and an uncertain wilderness journey ahead.