In pashat Shemot, HaShem tells Moshe that He will cause the Israelites to become favored by the Egyptians. "And I will give this people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians so when you leave, you will not leave empty-handed." (Exodus 3:21) Moshe was then told, "Each woman shall request from her neighbor and the ones who live in her house articles of silver and gold, and garments, and you shall put them on your sons and daughters, and you shall empty out Egypt." (3:22)



Just prior to the Exodus, as the smitten Egyptians were urging the Israelites to depart, they requested these items and received them. (Exodus 12:35) Also, long in advance, Joseph had put aside treasures on behalf of the Israelites in prophetic anticipation of the eventual Exodus (Pesachim 119). As a result, they left with immense wealth, as foretold to Abraham at the Covenant Between the Pieces (Genesis 14:14). However, considering that they were entering the Sinai Desert, where they were provided with all their needs by the Almighty, and eventually into land of Israel, where "nothing is lacking," (Deuteronomy 8:9) why did they need to acquire such wealth?



The commentators propose responses.



According to the Ohr HaChaim, this is an intimation of the Torah law that states that when a Hebrew slave is freed at the end of his term, he must be granted gifts (Deuteronomy 15:14). Likewise, the Israelites were bestowed with gifts as they were soon to exit the land of their servitude. The Rashbam states that silver and gold were needed to fashion ornaments to be worn on the holidays during their forty-year sojourn in the Sinai wilderness. There is a more common explanation that the silver and gold enabled the Israelites to construct the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, in the Sinai wilderness. The Da'at Sofrim states that the Israelites would not leave as pitiful slaves, but as a content nation that has amassed wealth and possessions.



I would like to propose an additional reason. While it is befitting that the Israelites left Egypt with nobility, such riches have their cost. The sudden acquisition of wealth was a test of the fortitude and faith of the Israelites. Wealth impacts one's perspective and attitude.



Prior to their entry into the Promised Land, the Israelites were warned, "Take care lest you forget HaShem, your G-d, by not observing his commandments, His ordinances and His decrees, which I command you today. Lest you eat and be satisfied you build good houses and you settle, and your cattle and sheep, and goats increase - and your heart will become haughty and you will forget HaShem your G-d, who took you out of the Land of Egypt from the house of slavery." (Devarim 8:11-14)



The Torah continues, "And you may say in your heart, 'My strength and the power of my hand made me all this wealth.' Then you will remember HaShem your G-d, who gave you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant that He swore to your forefathers this day." (Devarim 8:16-18)



With success and wealth comes an abiding sense of personal accomplishment, which can result in forgetfulness that the source of that achievement is ultimately from the Almighty. The success the Israelites would achieve in the Land of Israel was a challenge to maintain their perspective and to stay on the proper path shown to them by HaShem. It is, in essence, a struggle to harness one's ego. A very similar challenge actually began earlier, as the Israelites exited Egypt.



Suddenly, upon leaving Egypt, the impoverished Israelites attained wealth and, with that, changes in attitude. They left their experiences of toil under their Egyptian masters, clearly implanted in their memories, but also with newly found wealth, which raised their expectations. When they faced situations that looked hopeless, what would they do? When faced with apparent desperation at the Red Sea, no fresh water at Marah after traveling three days without water, the apparent lack of leadership following Moshe's delayed return from Mount Sinai, or the prospect of a seemingly futile mission into the Promised Land, based upon the spies' negative report - how would they respond? Would they demand satisfaction, complain and rebel against the Almighty, who brought them out of Egypt? Would they even call for an end to their mission into the Promised Land?



The Talmud quotes from the Yeshiva of Rabbi Yannai stating that, when Moshe argued on behalf of the Israelites before the Almighty following the sin of the Golden Calf, he told the Almighty that the sin had occurred "because of the silver and gold that You lavished upon Israel until they said, 'Enough!'" (Berachot 32B) Moshe was saying that the Israelites had sinned on account of the wealth that they had acquired in Egypt; that the wealth had adversely affected their conduct. The Talmud further states, "A lion does not roar amid a basket of straw, but rather amid a basket of meat." The commentator Rashi explains that when a lion has an abundance of meat, it becomes crazed with excitement, roaring and attacking animals around it. (Berachot 32B)



Wealth was a challenge meant to strengthen the nation as it entered the Sinai wilderness, faced its entry and eventual settlement of the Promised Land. The nation was also being primed to endure its many tribulations over the span of the next three thousand years of history, as well.



In the United States and other Western nations over recent years, a strong economy has allowed an unprecedented measure of economic success for many Jewish communities. Unlike prior generations, that struggled to eke out a living, success has been less difficult to attain. Will those who have achieved success remain grounded and humble as their ancestors? Do they truly realize and acknowledge the source of their success?



The successes that modern Israel has experienced have prompted many to claim such accomplishments have been on account of their own strengths and talents. They will attribute victory to our armed forces, successes in transforming the desert into a blooming garden to our agricultural talents, managing to maintain a sound economy in the face of incredible expenditures to our experts. As our ancestors who left Egypt, we too face similar tests to our faith.