Exodus 16: Manna and the Sabbath
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What happens?
The people grumble that they have no food, and Yahweh says he will rain bread from the sky and give them meat. In the evening quail cover the camp, and in the morning there is a fine, flaky thing on the ground, which the people call manna, and they gather it each day. On the sixth day they gather twice as much, because the seventh day is a Sabbath, and Moses has an omer of manna kept for the generations to come.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 5 of the 36 verses: what he tells Moses about the bread and the sixth day in verses 4 and 5, what Moses is to tell the people in verse 12, and his words to Moses about the Sabbath in verses 28 and 29. The people speak in verses 3 and 15. Moses and Aaron speak to the people in verses 6 and 7, and Moses speaks in verses 8, 9, 15, 16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 32 and 33. In verses 16, 23 and 32 Moses is repeating what Yahweh has commanded, so those verses are not in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to 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.
In plain English: They traveled from Elim, and the whole community of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left the land of Egypt.
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2The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness;
In plain English: The whole community of Israel grumbled (or: murmured) against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
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3and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by Yahweh’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
In plain English: The Israelites said to them, "We wish that we had died by Yahweh's hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate our fill of bread. For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
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4Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.God speaks
In plain English: Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, I am about to rain bread from the sky for you. The people are to go out and gather each day's portion on its day, so that I can test them, to see whether they will walk in my law or not.
The Hebrew word: "Law" is torah. The dictionary gives it as "a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch".
How it is translated: In its 213 verses this Bible says a form of "law" in about 24 of every 25. In Exodus it says "law" or "laws" in all 7 verses that use the word.
Good to know: Before the Ten Commandments in chapter 20, Exodus uses this word in , , this verse, , and . The text does not say what "my law" is at this point in the story.
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5It shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”God speaks
In plain English: On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather each day."
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6Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, “At evening, you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt.
In plain English: Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "At evening you will know that Yahweh brought you out of the land of Egypt,
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7In the morning, you shall see Yahweh’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against Yahweh. Who are we, that you murmur against us?”
In plain English: and in the morning you will see Yahweh's glory, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you grumble against us?"
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8Moses said, “Now Yahweh will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because Yahweh hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And who are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against Yahweh.”
In plain English: Moses said, "Yahweh will give you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfy you, because he has heard your grumbling against him. And who are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against Yahweh."
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9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘Come close to Yahweh, for he has heard your murmurings.’”
In plain English: Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole community of Israel, 'Come close to Yahweh, for he has heard your grumbling.'"
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10As Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, Yahweh’s glory appeared in the cloud.
In plain English: While Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and there the glory of Yahweh appeared in the cloud.
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11Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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12“I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.’”God speaks
In plain English: "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Speak to them and say, 'At evening (literally: between the two evenings) you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.'"
The Hebrew words: "At evening" is the Hebrew ben ha-arbayim, literally "between the two evenings", the same phrase as in .
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13In the evening, quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp.
In plain English: In the evening the quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.
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14When the dew that lay had gone, behold, on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing, small as the frost on the ground.
In plain English: When the layer of dew was gone, there on the surface of the wilderness was a small round thing (or: fine flakes), as fine as frost on the ground.
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15When the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat.
In plain English: When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat.
The Hebrew words: "What is it?" is man hu. The name "Manna" in is the Hebrew word man, the first word of that question.
How it is translated: The word man is in 4 verses of Exodus, all in this chapter. This Bible says "what" in 1 (this verse) and "manna" in 3. The dictionary gives it as "literally a whatness (so to speak), i.e. manna (so called from the question about it)".
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16This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded: ‘Gather of it everyone according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, you shall take it, every man for those who are in his tent.’”
In plain English: This is what Yahweh has commanded: 'Gather some of it, each person according to what he can eat, an omer (a measure) for each person, by the number of your people. Each of you is to take it for those who are in his tent.'"
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17The children of Israel did so, and some gathered more, some less.
In plain English: The Israelites did so; some gathered more, some less.
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18When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. They each gathered according to his eating.
In plain English: When they measured it with an omer, the one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little did not lack. Each one gathered what he could eat.
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19Moses said to them, “Let no one leave of it until the morning.”
In plain English: Moses said to them, "Let no one leave any of it until morning."
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20Notwithstanding they didn’t listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, so it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.
In plain English: But they did not listen to Moses. Some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank, and Moses was angry with them.
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21They gathered it morning by morning, everyone according to his eating. When the sun grew hot, it melted.
In plain English: They gathered it morning by morning, each according to what he could eat. When the sun grew hot, it melted.
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22On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one; and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
In plain English: On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each person, and all the leaders of the community came and told Moses.
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23He said to them, “This is that which Yahweh has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil; and all that remains over lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.’”
In plain English: He said to them, "This is what Yahweh has said: 'Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Whatever is left over, lay it up for yourselves to be kept until morning.'"
The Hebrew words: "Solemn rest" is shabbaton and "Sabbath" is shabbat. The dictionary gives shabbat as "intermission, i.e (specifically) the Sabbath".
Good to know: This is the first verse in the Bible that uses the word shabbat. and speak of God resting on the seventh day without it. In Exodus the word is in 13 verses, 4 of them in this chapter.
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24They laid it up until the morning, as Moses ordered, and it didn’t become foul, and there were no worms in it.
In plain English: They laid it up until morning, as Moses ordered, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it.
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25Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to Yahweh. Today you shall not find it in the field.
In plain English: Moses said, "Eat it today, because today is a Sabbath to Yahweh. Today you will not find it in the field.
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26Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath. In it there shall be none.”
In plain English: For six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none."
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27On the seventh day, some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.
In plain English: On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.
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28Yahweh said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?
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29Behold, because Yahweh has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days. Everyone stay in his place. Let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.”God speaks
In plain English: Look, because Yahweh has given you the Sabbath, he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days. Each of you is to stay in his place. No one is to go out of his place on the seventh day."
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30So the people rested on the seventh day.
In plain English: So the people rested on the seventh day.
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31The house of Israel called its name “Manna”, and it was like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey.
In plain English: The house of Israel called its name Manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers made with honey.
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32Moses said, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, ‘Let an omer-full of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”
In plain English: Moses said, "This is what Yahweh has commanded: 'Keep an omer-full of it throughout your generations, so that they can see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'"
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33Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot, and put an omer-full of manna in it, and lay it up before Yahweh, to be kept throughout your generations.”
In plain English: Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot (or: jar) and put an omer-full of manna in it. Lay it up before Yahweh, to be kept throughout your generations."
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34As Yahweh commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
In plain English: As Yahweh commanded Moses, Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
The Hebrew word: "Testimony" is edut, which the dictionary gives as "testimony".
How it is translated: In Exodus this Bible says "covenant" in 18 of the 20 verses that use the word, and "Testimony" in only 2: this one and .
Good to know: The ark is described in to , and the two stone tablets are given in . This verse comes before both. The text does not say what "before the Testimony" points to here.
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35The children of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate the manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan.
In plain English: The Israelites ate the manna for forty years, until they came to a land where people lived. They ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
Good to know: This verse looks ahead past the end of the chapter. tells that the manna stopped the day after Israel ate the produce of the land.
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36Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah.
In plain English: An omer is one tenth of an ephah.
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