Hashem told Moshe to instruct the Jewish women לשאול the precious vessels and garments of their Egyptian neighbors and take them when they left Egypt. Although the verb לשאול is commonly translated as “to borrow,” Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch notes that it can also mean “to request.” How can we determine which definition it has in any given pasuk?
Rav Hirsch explains that whenever לשאול refers to borrowing, it appears in conjunction with the word עם (with), as in (Shemos 22:13) רעהו עם וכי ישאל איש מ - if a man shall borrow from his friend, meaning that he is asking to use something that belongs to his friend and is currently with him, after which he intends to return it. In contrast, when making a request or asking for an outright gift, the word עם is omitted, as in (Shemos 13:14) והיה כי ישאלך בנך מחר - and it shall be when your son will ask you in the future, or (Tehillim 2:8) שאל ממני ואתנה - Request of Me, and I will give.
Applying this distinction to Hashem’s directive that ושאלה אשה משכנתה, we now understand that they were not being told to borrow the Egyptians’ valuables, for Hashem did not say שכנתה עם ושאלה אשה מ, but rather to ask for them outright, a request that their neighbors would be happy to comply with to get the Jews to leave after all the plagues.
Rav Shimon Schwab points out that a pasuk in Parshas Eikev (Devarim 10:12) appears to be inconsistent with Rav Hirsch’s principle. In informing us that the only thing Hashem asks of us is that we fear Him, the Torah says מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך. Seemingly, this is a request that He makes of us, yet it is expressed as שאל מעמך. According to Rav Hirsch’s rule, this means that Hashem is asking to borrow yiras Shomayim (the fear of Heaven) from us, which seems erroneous.
Rav Schwab notes that the Gemara (Niddah 16b) teaches that everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven, which seems to indicate that yiras Shomayim must come from us. On the other hand, in our daily morning prayers, we petition Hashem וישם בלבנו אהבתו ויראתו - Please place the fear and love of You in our hearts, which implies that yiras Shomayim comes from Hashem. Which understanding is correct?
Rav Schwab explains that fear of Heaven must start with us. The Medrash (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2) says that once we have cultivated and developed a modicum of yiras Shomayim on our own, even if it is only the size of the eye of a needle, then Hashem assists us by expanding it to a much larger opening through which even wagons can enter. What is the source for this concept?
Rav Schwab posits that it can be derived from interpreting Hashem’s request in light of Rav Hirsch’s distinction. By telling us that He desires yiras Shomayim מעמך, the Torah is hinting that He is asking us for something that He plans to give back. Namely, if we take the first step and generate a small amount of yiras Shomayim within ourselves and then “lend” it to Hashem, He will bless us with true fear of Heaven by returning our meager loan to us with much more added on. (R’ Ozer Alport)
