Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Exodus – Did the Israelites Plunder the Egyptians?
Did the Israelites Plunder the Egyptians?
Did the Israelites Plunder the Egyptians? I am going to argue that, no, they didn’t. The evidence for the Israelites plundering the Egyptians is Exodus 3:22 and 12:36. Very plainly, every translation I checked states that the Israelites plundered the Egyptians. What if these translations are wrong?
The main argument against what I am proposing is that every translation I checked says basically the same thing, often using the word “plundered”. The Hebrew word there is natsal. It has a bad meaning (i.e., plunder); and a good meaning (i.e., deliver or save). The denotative meaning is “take away”.
Now why do I think natsal should not be translated as plundered, but instead as “save” or “deliver”?
Immediate Context
1. Verse 21 says, “I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians”. The same thing is repeated in Exodus 12:36“Favor” is chen. It is also used in Exodus 11:3 – “The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians”. Added to this is what they thought of Moses, that he was a great in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and the people. The first time it is used is in Genesis 6 where Noah found “favor” in the eyes of God. The N.T. equivalent is grace. Searching the O.T. use and we discover that finding “favor” often leads to others doing a “favor”.
2. Verse 22 says, “Each woman will ask”. Isn’t it odd that the women are asking? Doesn’t this imply that the asking is not demanding, nor taking by force such as male soldiers would do?
3. Verse 22 also says whom they are to ask, neighbors and women staying in their houses.
Extended Context
1. The first extended context is the book of Exodus. Not a single time (unless in Exodus 3:22; 12:36), is natsal used negatively.
2. The second extended context is Abraham’s narrative in Egypt. The Bible often repeats the same stories but with different characters. Israel is not the first to receive lots of material goods in Egypt. In Genesis 12:16 Abraham, the first Patriarch of Israel, was treated well by Pharaoh’s household. He received flocks, herds, donkeys, slaves, and camels. When Abram left Egypt, he took the gifts with him.
The historical record states that the Egyptians thought highly of Moses and the Israelites because of their God; and that contrasts with the soldiers and Pharaoh who chased after the freed slaves and were destroyed (Exodus 14).
Did the Israelites plunder, rob, and take by force from the Egyptians. Or did the Israelites help “save” or “deliver” the Egyptians from further punishment because the Egyptians helped the saved Israelites?
Comments