Library Theodoret Questions on Exodus
Questions on Exodus 23: Asking the Egyptians for gold and silver
Some blame God for commanding the Hebrews to ask the Egyptians for gold and silver vessels and clothing and to despoil the Egyptians; for thus Symmachus rendered “to prepare.”
The people endured a long time in Egypt making bricks and building walls and constructing cities. The Lord God therefore wished them to receive wages for their labors. For this reason he also commanded them to do these things. And let no one think it unjust that, when Pharaoh had wronged the people, the Egyptians were exacted the wage. For they too shared in the injustice, imitating the king’s cruelty.
Greek: Theodoret of Cyrus, Quaestiones in Octateuchum / Questions on Exodus (CPG 6200.02; cf. Fernández Marcos and Sáenz-Badillos; also PG 80, cols. 225–298). English: study translation for BWAB Library—not the copyrighted Robert C. Hill (CUA Press) translation. The full Questions on Exodus (72 questions) is hosted here.