Moses
121
Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof, and
after that he will let you go.”
The powerful works of God, which he wrought before the Egyp-
tians for the deliverance of the Hebrews, would give them favor in the
sight of the Egyptians, that when they should leave Egypt they should
not go empty-handed. “But every woman shall borrow of her neighbor,
and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of
gold, and raiment, and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon
your daughters, and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.”
The Egyptians had made slaves of the children of Israel, when
they were not slaves, and the Egyptians were not entitled to their labor.
They had only allowed the children of Israel a sustenance, and had
enriched themselves with the labor which they had extorted from them.
They had oppressed them, and bound them down under heavy burdens,
until God interposed in their behalf. And as they were to go from
their oppressors, they would need for their long journey that which
they could exchange for bread, and use as their circumstances should
require. Therefore, God directed them to borrow of their neighbors,
and the stranger that sojourned with them. That is, the Egyptian that
had been appointed over them to see that they performed a certain
amount of labor each day. Although they might borrow quite an
[192]
amount, it would be but a small recompense for the hard labor they
had performed, which had enriched the Egyptians.
Moses plead with the Lord, and said, “But behold, they will not
believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, The Lord
hath not appeared unto thee.” The Lord then assured him by the miracle
of the rod becoming a serpent, and the hand turning leprous, that by
such signs and wonderful works would he cause the Egyptians and
Pharaoh to fear, so that they would not dare to harm him. By these
signs he assured Moses that he would convince the king and his people
that a greater than himself was manifesting his power before them.
And yet, after they should perform many miracles before Pharaoh in
the sight of the people, they would not let Israel go. Moses wished to
be excused from the laborious task. He plead a lack of ready speech as
an excuse. That is, he had been so long from the Egyptians, he had not
as clear knowledge and ready use of their language as when he was
among them.