But every woman shall ask of her neighbor — so shall you plunder the Egyptians. Exodus 3:22

Last week, we saw how Jacob served Laban for seven years to obtain his first wife, and another seven to get the second (Genesis 31:41). He worked for Laban a total of twenty. The time Jacob served Laban was in increments of seven years while trying to obtain his wives.

When Moses received the law from God, the seven-year period was included. “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts (Deuteronomy 15:1).” But keep in mind, the law that God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai did not come for around 500 years after Jacob began serving for his first wife. It would also seem that other laws were being practiced before God gave Moses the law at Mount Sinai.

In the code of Hammurabi, an Amorite king who lived from 1810-1750 B.C., a person who was indebted to another must serve for three years and be set free on the fourth. The principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is found in Hammurabi’s code. It was also given to Moses by God in Exodus 21:22-27. So here is my point: it would appear that some of the Old Testament law was being practiced before it was ever made law by God.

The custom (tradition) of giving gifts to servants who are leaving was practiced long before the law, before Deuteronomy 15:13-14 was ever given or written. “And when you send him (servant) away free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. You shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress.”

We already noted the example of Laban alluding to the farewell party he would have had for Jacob and his family. Joseph celebrated with his brothers the night before they left Egypt. And before Abraham’s servant returned home, he “brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.”

Now, when we consider the Hebrews leaving Egypt, it would have been normal for the neighbors to give gifts to those who were leaving; it was a custom or tradition. But God directs Moses to have the people ask for gifts from their neighbors. This was the directive we read in Exodus 3:21-21, 11:2-3, 12:35-36.

Here are a few points to remember:

1 – The custom of celebrating and giving gifts was common among the Old Testament people before the law was ever given (Genesis 43:7).

2 – It was a custom when a servant departed from his master to go on his own (Genesis 31:27).

3 – When God gave the law at Mount Sinai, the giving of gifts to servants was included (Deuteronomy 15).

Next week we will answer an important question. Did the Hebrews ask for gifts, or did they borrow from the Egyptians as the KJV of 1611 says?

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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children’s book.