John Calvin Commentary Exodus 11:2

"Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold." — Exodus 11:2 (ASV)

Speak now in the ears of the people. He repeats His command regarding the spoiling of the Egyptians, which was mentioned in the third chapter. For it was not enough for God to rescue His people from that cruel tyranny under which their wretched lives were barely sustained in great poverty and distress, unless He also enriched them with large possessions, as if they were carrying away the prizes of victory from conquered enemies.

This, therefore, was the culmination of His otherwise extraordinary generosity: that they departed splendidly adorned,¹³³ and loaded with valuable furnishings. We have already explained how it was lawful for the Israelites to take away with them the golden and silver vessels under the pretext of borrowing them.¹³⁴

Surely the sole authority of God absolves them from the accusation of theft and sinful deception. But no mortal man is permitted to criticize or quibble about anything in God's commandment, not only because His decree is above all laws, but because His most perfect will is the rule of all laws.

For God is not therefore exempt from law because He delights in uncontrollable power, but because in the perfection of His infinite justice, there is no need for law.

But although the excuse that some allege is not entirely without a show of reason—namely, that the very severe labors the Egyptians had tyrannically exacted were worthy of some reward, and therefore God had justly permitted His people to exact the compensation of which they would have otherwise been unjustly defrauded—still, there is no necessity to resort to these subtleties.

For that principle, which we have laid down elsewhere, ought to be sufficient: that God, in whose hands are the ends of the earth, to destroy and to overturn its kingdoms at His will, and to change the government of its nations, much more (has the right) so to distribute the wealth and possessions of individuals, as to enrich some and to reduce others to poverty.

The rich and poor meet together, (as Solomon says) the Lord is maker of them all, (Proverbs 22:2).

By these words he means that God's providence rules in the diverse mingling of poor and rich.

But if theft is taking what belongs to another, those things which God has been pleased to transfer to His own people must not be considered the property of others. If by the laws of war victors are permitted to gather the spoil of the enemy, why should we consider it less permissible for God to do so from the Egyptians, whom He had overcome in ten illustrious battles before He compelled them to surrender?

Regarding the pretext of borrowing, the reply is easy: the Israelite women did not lie when they asked for the vessels for the purpose of sacrifice, since God had commanded this, and it was in His power afterward to devote them to other uses. Still, part of them were dedicated to the sanctuary, as we shall see elsewhere. For besides the altar, the censer, the candlestick, and other vessels of that kind, each of the tribes offered bowls and dishes of great value.

Yet we must remember that a particular case is related here, the imitation of which, without God’s special command, would be wrong.

¹³³ “Chargez de bagues, meubles, et vaisselles precieuses;” laden with rings, furniture, and precious vessels. — Fr..

¹³⁴ See notes on chap. 3:22. on chap. 3:22.