שמות, פרק י״ב, פסוק ל״ו

The climax of the Exodus is marked by a dramatic reversal of power. The enslaved nation does not flee as destitute refugees but emerges as victors laden with the wealth of their former oppressors. This transfer of riches was not an act of violent robbery but a willing, abundant handover driven by direct divine intervention. Without God granting them special favor, the Egyptians would never have felt the affection necessary to part with their property [ברכת אשר]. Through this miraculous shift in attitude, God fulfilled His earlier promise to Moses [חזקוני].

The primary approach among commentators is that the Egyptians handed over their wealth willingly and with great enthusiasm. They actively appeased the Israelites, offering their vessels [אבן עזרא הקצר], initiating gifts that were not even requested [רלב״ג, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים], and urging them to take more than they asked for [רש״י]. This profound respect was partly inspired by the Israelites' remarkable honesty during the plague of darkness [רש״ר הירש], turning what began as a loan into an absolute gift [רשב״ם]. Conversely, some perspectives suggest the exchange was forced upon the Egyptians against their will [שפתי כהן, גור אריה]. Another view presents the exact opposite dynamic: the Israelites themselves were forced to take the wealth. Eager to experience their freedom, they had no desire to be weighed down by heavy burdens [תורה תמימה]. However, precisely because they cherished the redemption more than material gain, God rewarded them with immense riches [אור החיים].

Addressing the moral question of whether taking this wealth constituted theft, commentators explain that God, who owns everything in the world, legally transferred the property to the Israelites. Furthermore, the riches served as rightful wages for their many years of harsh labor [ריב״א]. The ultimate result was a complete emptying of the Egyptian nation. The Israelites took all the precious items [רלב״ג], including the finest garments, which they placed on their children [רשב״ם]. This accumulated wealth even included the vast reserves of silver and gold that Joseph had gathered from across the world during the years of famine [תורה תמימה].

This draining of Egyptian households, which occurred in a miraculously brief span of about six hours [ברכת אשר], was only the first stage. Having parted with their domestic wealth, the Egyptians later brought their royal treasures when they pursued the Israelites to the Red Sea. There, those treasures were also taken, leaving the nation entirely depleted [אדרת אליהו]. Beyond the material loss, this emptying had a profound psychological dimension. Rather than just losing property, the Egyptians experienced a deep emotional sinking. Accustomed to ruling over the Israelites with immense pride, they suddenly sank into shame, fear, and sadness as they watched their former slaves march toward freedom adorned in gold and silver. Their arrogance drowned, leaving them paralyzed by grief, much like a desolate fortress or a barren sea [הכתב והקבלה].