Before the Jews could leave Egypt, they had to take care of one last piece of unfinished business. Generations earlier, the Almighty had told Avraham that his descendants would experience slavery and suffering. But He also assured him that they would emerge with great wealth. The time had now arrived for the fulfillment of this promise.

The Jews were instructed to approach the Egyptians and ask them for their valuables. To prevent the Egyptians from denying that they possessed any treasures, the Almighty put a foolproof plan into place. During the plague of darkness, while the Egyptians were completely immobilized, the Jews were free to roam around wherever they wanted.

Nonetheless, why were the Egyptians willing to give up their personal treasures simply because they were impressed by their slaves' knowledge of the contents of their homes? Were they afraid of being struck by another plague as terrible as the first ten that had already decimated their country? Or, was this an admission that the Jews were the victors and as such were entitled to the spoils of war?

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that the Egyptians were amazed by the fact that the Jews hadn't removed a single item from their homes during their three days of unrestricted access. It was their ability to restrain themselves that impressed the Egyptians.

We learn from the experience of our ancestors, however, that our ability to be morally superior is what most impresses others. Our chayn, the sweetness and charm of the Jewish people, is our best feature.