1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. |
2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. |
3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." |
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. |
5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days." |
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, |
7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD , because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" |
8 Moses also said, "You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD ." |
9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD , for he has heard your grumbling.' " |
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud. |
11 The LORD said to Moses, |
12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.' " |
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. |
14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. |
15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. |
16 This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer1 16:16 That is, probably about 2 quarts (about 2 liters); also in verses 18, 32, 33 and 36 for each person you have in your tent.' " |
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. |
18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. |
19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." |
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. |
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. |
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much-two omers2 16:22 That is, probably about 4 quarts (about 4.5 liters) for each person-and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. |
23 He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD . So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' " |
24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. |
25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD . You will not find any of it on the ground today. |
26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any." |
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. |
28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you3 16:28 The Hebrew is plural. refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? |
29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." |
30 So the people rested on the seventh day. |
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.4 16:31 Manna means What is it? (see verse 15). It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. |
32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' " |
33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come." |
34 As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. |
35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. |
36 (An omer is one tenth of an ephah.) |
15 In this chapter,
Their discontent at the waters of Marah, Exo 15:23-24.
and the relief granted them, Exo 15:25-26.
Their satisfaction in the waters of Elim, Exo 15:27.
15:23 The name of it was called Marah - That is, Bitterness.
15:25 And he cried unto the Lord - It is the greatest relief of the cares of magistrates and ministers, when those under their charge make them uneasy, that they may have recourse to God by prayer; he is the guide of the church's guides, and to the chief shepherd, the under shepherds must on all occasions apply themselves: And the Lord directed Moses to a tree, which he cast into the waters, and they were made sweet - Some think this wood had a peculiar virtue in it for this purpose, because it is said, God shewed him the tree. God is to be acknowledged, not only in the creating things useful for man, but in discovering their usefulness. But perhaps this was only a sign, and not a means of the cure, no more than the brazen serpent. There he made a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them - That is, there he put them upon trial, admitted them as probationers for his favour. In short he tells them, Exo 15:26, what he expected from them, and that was, in one word,obedience. They must diligently hearken to his voice, and give ear to his commandments, and must take care, in every thing, to do that which was right in God's sight, and to keep all his statutes. Then I will put none of these diseases upon thee - That is, I will not bring upon thee any of the plagues of Egypt. This intimates, that if they were disobedient, the plagues which they had seen inflicted on their enemies should be brought on them. But if thou wilt be obedient, thou shalt be safe, the threatening is implied, but the promise is expressed, I am the Lord that healeth thee - And will take care of thee wherever thou goest.
16 This chapter gives us an account of the victualling of the camp of Israel.
16:1 A month's provision, it seems, the host of Israel took with them out of Egypt, when they came thence on the 15th day of the first month, which, by the 15th day of the second month, was all spent.
16:2 Then the whole congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron - God's viceregents among them.
16:3 They so undervalue their deliverance, that they wish, they had died in Egypt, nay, and died by the hand of the Lord too. That is, by some of the plagues which cut off the Egyptians; as if it were not the hand of the Lord, but of Moses only, that brought them into this wilderness. 'Tis common for people to say of that pain, or sickness, which they see not second causes of, It is what pleaseth God, as if that were not so likewise which comes by the hand of man, or some visible accident.We cannot suppose they had any great plenty in Egypt, how largely soever they now talk of the flesh - pots, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness while they had their flocks and herds with them; but discontent magnifies what is past, and vilifies what is present, without regard to truth or reason. None talk more absurdly than murmurers.
16:4 Man being made out of the earth, his Maker has wisely ordered him food out of the earth, Psa 104:14. But the people of Israel typifying the church of the first - born that are written in heaven, receiving their charters, laws and commissions from heaven, from heaven also they received their food. See what God designed in making this provision for them, that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no - Whether they will trust me, and whether they would serve him, and be ever faithful to so good a master.
16:5 They shall prepare - Lay up, grind, bake or boil.
16:6 The Lord - And not we, (as you suggest) by our own counsel.
16:10 The glory of the Lord - An extra - ordinary and sudden brightness.
16:12 And ye shall know that I am the Lord your God - This gave proof of his power as the Lord, and his particular favour to them as their God; when God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know that he is the Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know that he was their God.
16:13 The quails came up, and covered the camp - So tame that they might take up as many of them as they pleased. Next morning he rained manna upon them, which was to be continued to them for their daily bread.
16:15 What is this? Manna descended from the clouds. It came down in dew melted, and yet was itself of such a consistency as to serve for nourishing strengthening food, without any thing else: It was pleasant food; the Jews say it was palatable to all, according as their tastes were.It was wholesome food, light of digestion. By this spare and plain diet we are all taught a lesson of temperance, and forbidden to desire dainties and varieties.
16:16 An omer - The tenth part of an Ephah: Near six pints, wine - measure.
16:19 Let no man leave 'till morning - But let them learn to go to bed and sleep quietly, though they had not a bit of bread in their tent, nor in all their camp, trusting God with the following day to bring them their daily bread. Never was there such a market of provisions as this, where so many hundred thousand men were daily furnished without money, and without price: never was there such an open house kept as God kept in the wilderness for 40 years together, nor such free and plentiful entertainment given. And the same wisdom, power and goodness that now brought food daily out of the clouds, doth in the constant course of nature bring food yearly out of the earth, and gives us all things richly to enjoy.
16:23 Here is a plain intimation of the observing a seventh day sabbath, not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt and therefore from the beginning. If the sabbath had now been first instituted, how could Moses have understood what God said to him, Exo 16:4, concerning a double portion to be gathered on the sixth day, without making any express mention of the sabbath? And how could the people so readily take the hint, Exo 16:22, even to the surprize of the rulers, before Moses had declared that it was done with regard to the sabbath, if they had not had some knowledge of the sabbath before? The setting apart of one day in seven for holy work, and in order to that for holy rest, was a divine appointment ever since God created man upon the earth.
16:34 An omer of this manna was laid up in a golden pot as we are told, Heb 9:4, and kept before the testimony, or the ark, when it was afterwards made, The preservation of this manna from waste and corruption, was a standing miracle; and therefore the more proper memorial of this miraculous food.The manna is called spiritual meat, Co1 10:3, because it was typical of spiritual blessings. Christ himself is the true manna, the bread of life, of which that was a figure, Joh 6:49-51. The word of God is the manna by which our souls are nourished, Mat 4:4.The comforts of the Spirit are hidden manna, Rev 2:17.These comforts from heaven as the manna did, are the support of the divine life in the soul while we are in the wilderness of this world: it is food for Israelites, for those only that follow the pillar of cloud and fire: it is to be gathered; Christ in the word is to be applied to the soul, and the means of grace used: we must every one of us gather for ourselves.There was manna enough for all, enough for each, and none had too much; so in Christ there is a compleat sufficiency, and no superfluity. But they that did eat manna hungered again, died at last, and with many of them God was not well pleased: whereas they that feed on Christ by faith shall never hunger, and shall die no more, and with them God will be for ever well pleased. The Lord evermore give us this bread!