FavoriteLoadingAdd to favorites

View Your Favorites

Biblical Contradiction: Robbery is or is not a sin:

Share
Home > Biblical Contradictions > Biblical Contradiction: Robbery is or is not a sin:
The Bible

Biblical Contradiction Explain: Robbery is or is not a sin:

Robbery is a sin:

“You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15

‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Leviticus 19:13

Robbery is not a sin:

I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Exodus 3:21-22

Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Exodus 12:35-36

Explanation:

Exodus 3 and Exodus 12 hardly constitute “robbery.” Both passages say that the Israelites asked the Egyptians:

“But every woman shall ask her neighbor…”

“For they had requested from the Egyptians…”

We have no reason to believe that the Israelites committed robbery insomuch as they broke into the Egyptians’ houses and removed items without their permission. The Egyptians, after enduring the 10 plagues, were so eager for the Israelites to leave that they would’ve given them anything.

The Israelites simply took advantage of the Egyptians’ eagerness and took everything they could from the Egyptians as compensation for the generations of enslavement. While this was unfortunate for the Egyptians, it does not constitute robbery.



Exodus 20:15
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
15 Thou shalt not steal.
Leviticus 19:13
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
13 Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning.
Exodus 3:21-22
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
21 And I will give favour to this people, in the sight of the Egyptians: and when you go forth, you shall not depart empty:
22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that is in her house, vessels of silver and of gold, and raiment: and you shall put them on your sons and daughters, and shall spoil Egypt.
Exodus 12:35-36
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg LXX Hebrew
35 And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much raiment.
36 And the Lord gave favour to the people in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them: and they stripped the Egyptians.
Author: NewApologia on May 12, 2012
Category: Biblical Contradictions