1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which [is] between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.
2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, [and] when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare [that] which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what [are] we, that ye murmur against us?
8 And Moses said, [This shall be], when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what [are] we? your murmurings [are] not against us, but against the LORD.
9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.
10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God.
13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness [there lay] a small round thing, [as] small as the hoar frost on the ground.
15 And when the children of Israel saw [it], they said one to another, It [is] manna: for they wist not what it [was]. And Moses said unto them, This [is] the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
16 This [is] the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, [according to] the number of your persons; take ye every man for [them] which [are] in his tents.
17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
18 And when they did mete [it] with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
22 And it came to pass, [that] on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one [man]: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23 And he said unto them, This [is that] which the LORD hath said, To morrow [is] the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake [that] which ye will bake [to day], and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day [is] a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.
26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, [which is] the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
27 And it came to pass, [that] there went out [some] of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it [was] like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it [was] like wafers [made] with honey.
32 And Moses said, This [is] the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
36 Now an omer [is] the tenth [part] of an ephah.
Overview of Exodus Chapter 16
Exodus Chapter 16 narrates the events following the Israelites’ departure from Egypt, focusing on their journey through the wilderness and God’s provision of manna and quail. This chapter illustrates themes of faith, dependence on God, and the importance of obedience to divine instructions.
Key Events
- The Grumbling of the Israelites (Verses 1-3)
After leaving Elim, the Israelites arrive at the Desert of Sin, where they begin to complain about their lack of food. They express nostalgia for their time in Egypt, where they had ample food, contrasting their current hardships.
- God’s Promise of Provision (Verses 4-12)
In response to their complaints, God promises to provide bread from heaven. He instructs Moses to tell the people that they will receive quail in the evening and manna in the morning. This provision is meant to teach them reliance on God.
- The Manna Appears (Verses 13-15)
That evening, quail arrives, and the next morning, a fine, flaky substance appears on the ground, which the Israelites call “manna.” They are instructed to gather only what they need for each day.
- Instructions for Gathering Manna (Verses 16-30)
God gives specific instructions on how much manna to gather, emphasizing that each person should collect according to their needs. Some Israelites disobey and gather more than necessary, leading to spoilage. This section highlights the importance of obedience to God’s commands.
- The Sabbath Command (Verses 29-30)
God emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath by instructing the Israelites to rest on the seventh day, ensuring they gather a double portion of manna on the sixth day. This establishes a rhythm of work and rest for the people.
Theological Themes
- Divine Provision
The chapter underscores God’s ability to provide for His people, even in desolate circumstances. Manna and quail serve as physical manifestations of God’s care and sustenance.
- Faith and Dependence
The Israelites are called to trust in God’s daily provision, learning to rely on Him rather than their own resources. This theme of dependence is central to their journey in the wilderness.
- Obedience to God’s Commands
The instructions regarding the gathering of manna highlight the necessity of obedience. The consequences of disobedience serve as a reminder of the importance of following God’s guidelines.
- The Sabbath Rest
The establishment of the Sabbath in this chapter signifies the importance of rest and spiritual reflection. It sets a precedent for future observance of the Sabbath as a holy day dedicated to God.
Character Analysis
- Moses
Moses acts as the mediator between God and the Israelites, conveying God’s messages and instructions. His leadership is tested as he deals with the people’s complaints and guides them in obedience.
- The Israelites
The people exhibit a mixture of faith and doubt. Their complaints reveal a lack of trust in God’s provision, yet they also demonstrate a longing for the comforts of their past life in Egypt.
Conclusion
Exodus Chapter 16 serves as a pivotal moment in the Israelites’ journey, emphasizing God’s provision, the necessity of obedience, and the establishment of the Sabbath. It challenges the readers to reflect on their own dependence on God and the importance of faith in times of uncertainty.
