Jews Owning Property in Egypt

The Aish Rabbi Replies

It’s actually interesting. Although we were slaves in Egypt, it does seem that we were allowed to own our own personal property – especially livestock. The Jewish people originally descended to Egypt in Joseph’s time as pastoralists, coming with large herds of sheep and cattle (which lacked grazing land in Canaan due to the famine; see Genesis 46:31-47:6). And despite their later enslavement, we never find that the Egyptians confiscated the Israelites’ property. Thus, at the end of the slavery, we had no difficulty offering a sheep or goat for the Paschal offering. The Torah further attests that when we departed Egypt, we left with huge flocks of animals (Exodus 12:38). Lastly, when the Plague of Pestilence occurred, striking all the Egyptian livestock (which weren’t brought indoors – see Rashi to Exodus 9:10), Moses emphasized that not a single Jewish animal would die – and that is indeed what occurred (Exodus 9:1-7).

Another indication that the Jews were able to own money was when Pharaoh’s daughter gave the baby she found, whom she would later name Moses, to his mother to nurse. She promised his mother, Yocheved, that she would pay her for her services (Exodus 2:9). Thus, apparently, Jews were able to earn money on the side – perhaps even enough to save up and purchase their freedom. (In truth, Yocheved was from the Tribe of Levi, which according to the Midrash was exempt from the bondage (Shemos Rabbah 5:16). However, Pharaoh’s daughter certainly didn’t know the baby’s tribe (just saying, “from the children of the Hebrews is this”). Thus clearly, offering to pay a Jewish wet-nurse for her services was appropriate behavior during the servitude.)

It should furthermore be kept in mind that for the most part, the Jews were not slaves to individual Egyptians. We were rather slaves directly to Pharaoh (Rashi to Exodus 20:2, citing Mechilta), i.e., his personal workforce. Thus, despite the torturous slavery we were subject to in Egypt, we did have a certain status as the king’s royal servants - not lowly slaves to every commoner in Egypt. Perhaps that granted us more privileges, including property rights.