(Ex. 3:22) Why would God command the Hebrews to steal from the Egyptians?

CLAIM: God said, “Thus you will plunder the Egyptians” (Ex. 3:22). This seems like a cruel command for God to give.

RESPONSE: Actually, the text says that the women should “ask” the Egyptians for supplies before they leave. The Hebrews had been enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years. These small gifts were hardly compensation for their years of unpaid service. In modern terms, we might call this getting your back wages –not stealing.