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Exodus Chapter
Sixteen
New King James Version
(NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO
EXODUS 16
This chapter begins with
an account of the journeying of the children of Israel from Elim to the
wilderness of Sin
where they murmured for want of bread
Exodus 16:1
when
the Lord told Moses that he would rain bread from heaven for them
which Moses
informed them of; and withal
that the Lord took notice of their murmurings
Exodus 16:4 which
promise the Lord fulfilled; and a description of the bread
and the name of it
are given
Exodus 16:13
and
some instructions are delivered out concerning the quantity of it to be
gathered
Exodus 16:16
the
time of gathering and keeping it
Exodus 16:19
the
gathering a double quantity on the sixth day for that and the seventh day
with
the reason of it
Exodus 16:22 and a
further description of it
Exodus 16:31
and
an order to preserve an omer of it in a pot
to be kept for generations to
come
that it might be seen by them
Exodus 16:32
and
the chapter is concluded with observing
that this bread was ate by the
Israelites forty years
even till they came to the borders of the land of
Canaan
and the quantity they ate every day is observed what it was
Exodus 16:35.
Exodus 16:1 And they
journeyed 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 they departed from the land of Egypt.
YLT 1And they journey from Elim
and all the
company of the sons of Israel come in unto the wilderness of Sin
which [is]
between Elim and Sinai
on the fifteenth day of the second month of their going
out from the land of Egypt.
And they took
their journey from Elim
.... And came again to the Red sea
as appears from Numbers 33:10
perhaps to some bay or creek of it
which ran up from it
and lay in their way
and where for a short time they encamped to look at it
and recollect what had
been done for them in bringing them through it; but as their stay here was
short
and nothing of any importance or consequence happened
it is here
omitted
and their next station is only observed:
and all the
congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin
which still
bears the same name
as a late travellerF1Shaw
p. 314. informs us
who passed through it
and says
we traversed these plains in nine hours
being
all the way diverted with the sight of a variety of lizards and vipers
that
are here in great numbers; and elsewhereF2lb p. 444. he says
that
vipers
especially in the wilderness of Sin which might very properly be called
"the inheritance of dragons"
were very dangerous and troublesome
not only our camels
but the Arabs who attended them
running every moment the
risk of being bitten. The Red sea
or the bay of it
they came to from Elim
according to BuntingF3Travels
p. 82. was six miles
and from thence
to the wilderness of Sin
sixteen more. This is a different wilderness from
that of Zin
which is written with a different letter
Numbers 20:1 and
was on the other side of Mount Sinai
as this was the way to it
as follows:
which is
between Elim and Sinai according to the above writerF4Ib.
it was twenty
miles from Elim the Israelites travelled
and forty more ere they came to
Sinai. Dr. ShawF5Travels
p. 314. says
after traversing the plains
in nine hours
we were near twelve hours in passing the many windings and
difficult ways which lie beteen those deserts and these of Sinai; the latter
consists of a beautiful plain more than a league in breadth
and nearly three
in length:
on the
fifteenth day of the second month
after their departing out of the land of
Egypt; the month Ijar
as the Targum of Jonathan
which answers to part
of April and part of May
and has its name from the beauty of the flowers
which appear at this time of the year: the Israelites were now come from thence
a month or thirty days; for they came out the fifteenth of Abib or Nisan
and
now it was the fifteenth of Ijar; and as the first day of this month
as Jarchi
says
was on the first day of the week
this day must be so likewise; and yet
sometimes the Jews sayF6T. Bab. Sabbat
fol. 87. 2. this was a
sabbath day.
Exodus 16:2 2 Then the whole congregation
of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
YLT 2And all the company of the sons of Israel
murmur against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness;
And the whole
congregation of the children of Israel murmured
.... For want of bread;
for the Targum of Jonathan says
that day the dough ceased they brought of
Egypt
on which
and the unleavened cakes they had lived thirty days; and for a
longer space of time it was not sufficient
as JosephusF7Antiqu. l.
2. c. 15. sect. 1. and other Jewish writersF8Seder Olam Rabba
c. 5.
p. 17. observe; and now it was all spent
and they were in the utmost distress
for bread
and fall a murmuring as they were used to do
when in any distress
even the whole congregation of them
at least the far greater part; some few
might be excepted
as Caleb and Joshua
and some others: and they
murmured
against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness; in the wilderness of
Sin
where they were
and where no corn was to be had to make bread of; and
their murmuring was not only against Moses
as before when they wanted water
but against Aaron also
who were jointly concerned in bringing them out of
Egypt. It is a common case
when things do not go so well as to be wished for
in church or state
for people to murmur against their governors
ecclesiastic
or civil
and lay all the blame to them.
Exodus 16:3 3 And the children of Israel
said to them
“Oh
that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of
Egypt
when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the
full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole
assembly with hunger.”
YLT 3and the sons of Israel say unto them
`Oh
that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt
in our sitting by
the flesh-pot
in our eating bread to satiety -- for ye have brought us out
unto this wilderness to put all this assembly to death with hunger.'
And the
children of Israel said unto them
.... They not only
inwardly murmured
and privately complained among themselves
but they spoke
out their complaints
and that in a very extravagant manner:
would to God we
had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt; by one of the
plagues
or some such like plague as were inflicted on the Egyptians
which
killed many of them
and particularly the hailstorm and plague on the
firstborn; suggesting that death
even by the hand of the Lord
whether in an
ordinary or extraordinary way
was more eligible than their present
circumstances: when we sat by the fleshpots
and when we did eat bread to the
full; which is an exaggeration of their former circumstances
and the happiness
of them
in order to aggravate the misery of their present ones; for it can
hardly be thought strictly true
that while they were in hard bondage in Egypt
they had often flesh in their pots
and leisure time to sit and attend them
either the boiling of it in them
or the eating of it when served up in dishes
at the table; which they seem to boast of
as if they had several dishes of
meat at table
and sat in great splendour
and took a great deal of time to
regale themselves
and when they indulged themselves to satiety
having fulness
of bread and all provisions:
for ye have
brought us forth into this wilderness
to kill this whole assembly with hunger: but there was
no danger of that at present
since they had so many flocks and herds with
them; though indeed so large a number would soon have ate them up
and which
could not so comfortably be fed upon without bread; and
besides
these they
did not choose to slay
unless under great necessity
which they reserved for
sacrifice
and for an increase.
Exodus 16:4 4 Then the Lord said to Moses
“Behold
I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and
gather a certain quota every day
that I may test them
whether they will walk
in My law or not.
YLT 4And Jehovah saith unto Moses
`Lo
I am
raining to you bread from the heavens -- and the people have gone out and
gathered the matter of a day in its day -- so that I try them whether they walk
in My law
or not;
Then said the
Lord unto Moses
.... Who no doubt had been praying to him
as was his usual
manner
when the people were in distress and complained
and was heard and
answered by him: behold:
I will rain
bread from heaven for you; though they were a murmuring
rebellious
and ungrateful people
the Lord dealt kindly and bountifully with them; he did
not rain fire and brimstone upon them
as on Sodom and Gomorrah
nor snares and
an horrible tempest
as on the wicked; but what was desirable by them
and
suitable to their present circumstances
even bread
which was what they
wanted
and this ready prepared; for though they did dress it in different
ways
yet it might be eaten without any preparation at all; and this it was
promised should be rained down upon them
there should be great plenty of it;
it should come as thick and as fast as a shower of rain
and lie around their
camp ready at hand to take up; and this should not spring out of the earth as
bread corn does
but come down from heaven; and being such a wonderful thing
a
"behold" is prefixed unto it
denoting the marvellousness of it
as
well as exciting attention to what was said: our Lord may seem to contradict
this
when he says
Moses gave you not that bread from heaven
John 6:32
but the
reconciliation is easy; for not to observe that it was God
and not Moses
that
gave this bread
so though it came from the airy heavens
and along with the
dew of it
where it was prepared perhaps by the ministry of angels
and
therefore called the corn of heaven
and angels' bread
Psalm 78:24
yet it
came not from the heaven of heavens
the third heaven
from whence the true
bread
the antitype of this
came
even our Lord Jesus Christ himself:
and the people
shall go out
and gather a certain rate of it every day; or "the
thing of the day in its day"F9דבר יום ביומו "rem diei in die
suo"
Pagninus
Montanus
Munster
Vatablus
Fagius
Drusius.
the bread
day by day; to which our Lord may be thought to allude
when he directs his
disciples to pray
give us this day our daily bread; as this would be rained
every morning
the people were to go out of the camp
and gather it up for
their daily use
and which was to be done every day:
that I may
prove them
whether they will walk in my law or no; by this
single instance of their obedience to his will in going out every morning to
gather their bread
that should be rained for them
he proposed to try and
prove their obedience to his law in all other respects; what regard would be
had to it when it should be given
and what might be expected from them
and
likewise whether they would depend upon his providence in this case also.
Exodus 16:5 5 And it shall be on the
sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in
and it shall be twice as
much as they gather daily.”
YLT 5and it hath been on the sixth day
that they
have prepared that which they bring in
and it hath been double above that
which they gather day [by] day.'
And it shall
come to pass
that on the sixth day
.... Of the week
and
from the raining of the bread
which was on the first day of the week:
they shall
prepare that which they bring in; the Targum of Jonathan
adds
to eat on the sabbath day; what they did not consume on the sixth day was
to be prepared and reserved for the seventh day; that is
it was to be baked or
boiled as they thought fit to have it
or eat it as it was
which they pleased
see Exodus 16:23 only
one part of it was to be kept till the next day:
and it shall be
twice as much as they gather daily: on that day should be
rained double what fell on other days
and so twice as much should be gathered
up; the reason for which is not here mentioned
but afterwards given; though
Moses no doubt was now made acquainted with it
or otherwise he could not have
informed the princes and people of it
as he afterwards did
Exodus 16:23.
Exodus 16:6 6 Then Moses and Aaron said
to all the children of Israel
“At evening you shall know that the Lord has brought
you out of the land of Egypt.
YLT 6And Moses saith -- Aaron also -- unto all the
sons of Israel
`Evening -- and ye have known that Jehovah hath brought you out
from the land of Egypt;
And Moses and
Aaron said unto all the children of Israel
.... That is
Aaron spoke
in the name of Moses to them
he being his spokesman
appointed of God to speak
for him
and both spoke to them as from the Lord:
at even
then
ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: that they
were brought out they knew
but they make this to be an act and deed of Moses
and Aaron
Exodus 16:3 whereas
it was the work of the Lord; and at evening they should have a fresh proof of
it
and that they were not brought forth to be killed with hunger
as they
complained
by the quails coming up and covering their camp
whereby they would
have flesh to eat
Exodus 16:12.
Exodus 16:7 7 And in the morning you
shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your
complaints against the Lord.
But what are we
that you complain against us?”
YLT 7and morning -- and ye have seen the honour of
Jehovah
in His hearing your murmurings against Jehovah
and what [are] we
that ye murmur against us?'
And in the
morning
then ye shall see the glory of the Lord
.... Either as displayed
in this wonderful affair
raining bread about their tents
which was in the
morning
or else as it appeared in the cloud
Exodus 16:7 the
latter sense seems to be confirmed by what follows: for that he; the glory of
the Lord
the glorious Shechinah of Jehovah
the Angel that went before them in
the cloud
the eternal Word and Son of God: heareth your murmurings against the
Lord; against Jehovah his Father; see Genesis 19:24.
and what are
we
that ye murmur against us? either signifying that there was no reason
for it
and no occasion of it
since not they
but the Lord
brought them out
of Egypt
and into those circumstances; what they did was only by his command
and with a view for their good
and therefore it was both unreasonable and
ungrateful in them to murmur against them; or as observing
that seeing they
murmured against the Lord
it was no strange thing to them they should murmur
against them
and therefore took it the more quietly and patiently.
Exodus 16:8 8 Also Moses said
“This
shall be seen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in
the evening
and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your
complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are
not against us but against the Lord.”
YLT 8And Moses saith
`In Jehovah's giving to you
in the evening flesh to eat
and bread in the morning to satiety -- in
Jehovah's hearing your murmurings
which ye are murmuring against Him
and what
[are] we? your murmurings [are] not against us
but against Jehovah.'
And Moses said
this shall be
.... Which supplement may be left out:
when the Lord
shall give you in the evening flesh to eat; cause the quails to come
up
and fall about their tents:
and in the
morning bread to the full; by raining it from heaven all around them:
for that
or rather
"then"F11בשמע "testabitur
se audisse"
Tigurine version. :
the Lord
heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him; it will then
appear that he has heard them
and taken notice of them
by giving them bread
and flesh
they complained of the want of; and yet did not resent in a way of
wrath and displeasure their murmurings
but kindly
bountifully
and in a most
marvellous manner provided for them
which was acting like himself
a God
gracious and merciful:
and what are
we? that we should be the objects of your resentment
and be
murmured at
and complained of
who had done nothing to deserve such treatment:
your murmurings
are not against us
but against the Lord; not only against them
but against the Lord also; or not so much against them as against the Lord
whose messengers and ministers they were
and whom they represented
obeyed
and served; thus whatever is done to the ministers of Christ
he reckons as
done to the Father
and to himself
Luke 10:16.
Exodus 16:9 9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron
“Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel
‘Come near before the Lord
for He has
heard your complaints.’”
YLT 9And Moses saith unto Aaron
`Say unto all the
company of the sons of Israel
Come ye near before Jehovah
for He hath heard
your murmurings;'
And Moses spake
unto Aaron
.... Who was his prophet and spokesman to the people:
say unto all
the congregation of the children of Israel; to the heads of them
to
as many as could conveniently hear him
and were to report what he said to the
rest:
come near
before the Lord; who was in the pillar of cloud
which from the first appearance
of it never removed from them
nor the Lord from that; though some have
thought
that before the tabernacle was built
there was some small tent or
little tabernacle where the Shechinah was; but for this there is no foundation
there is for the other suggested:
for he hath
heard your murmurings; which is repeated again and again
to observe to them the evil
of it
and what notice the Lord took of it
though he indulged them in so
gracious a manner he did.
Exodus 16:10 10 Now it came to pass
as
Aaron spoke to 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.
YLT 10and it cometh to pass
when Aaron is speaking
unto all the company of the sons of Israel
that they turn towards the
wilderness
and lo
the honour of Jehovah is seen in the cloud.
And it came to
pass
as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel
.... Before he
had well done speaking:
that they
looked toward the wilderness; they were already in the wilderness of Sin
and they looked straight forward toward that part of it which was yet before
them
or to the wilderness of Sinai
which was right onward
and whither they
were travelling:
and
behold
the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud; which went before them;
there was a more than common brightness in it
an effulgence and beam of light
and glory shining in it. Christ
the brightness of his Father's glory
and the
express image of his person
appeared in it
in some visible displays of his
majesty
which made it very observable to them.
Exodus 16:11 11 And
the Lord
spoke to Moses
saying
YLT 11And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses
saying
And the Lord
spake unto Moses
.... Out of the bright and glorious cloud:
saying; as follows:
Exodus 16:12 12 “I have heard the
complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them
saying
‘At twilight you
shall eat meat
and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you
shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”
YLT 12`I have heard the murmurings of the sons of
Israel; speak unto them
saying
Between the evenings ye eat flesh
and in the
morning ye are satisfied [with] bread
and ye have known that I [am] Jehovah
your God.'
I have heard
the murmurings of the children of Israel
.... This Moses and Aaron
had often affirmed
and now the Lord confirms what they had said
and lets them
know that he took notice of their murmurings
and disapproved of them
and was
displeased with them; though he did not think fit to resent them in an angry
way
but dealt kindly and graciously with them; and since he had brought them
into a wilderness
which was his own act
he would take care of them
and
provide for them; which they might reasonably conclude he would
since he had
done so many great and good things for them
in bringing them out of Egypt
and
through the Red sea
and had slain all their enemies
and had given them water
when in distress
and therefore need not have murmured nor have doubted but
that he would give them bread also:
speak unto
them
saying
at even ye shall eat flesh; meaning that very
evening
when the quails came up
as the following verse shows:
and in the
morning ye shall be filled with bread; the next morning
when
the manna fell around their camp
so that they had bread
and fulness of it:
and ye shall
know that I am the Lord your God; good and gracious
kind
and merciful
ever mindful of his covenant and promises
able to supply their
wants
and provide them with everything necessary and sufficient for them.
Exodus 16:13 13 So it was that quails came
up at evening and covered the camp
and in the morning the dew lay all around
the camp.
YLT 13And it cometh to pass in the evening
that
the quail cometh up
and covereth the camp
and in the morning there hath been
the lying of dew round about the camp
And it came to
pass
that at even the quails came up
.... From the coasts of
Egypt
from the Red sea
over which they flew; and being evening
and weary
with flying so long
lighted and settled where the Israelites encamped.
JosephusF12Antiqu. l. 3. c. 1. sect. 5. says
about the Arabian gulf
there are more of this sort of birds than any other
which flying over the sea
and being weary
and coming nearer the ground than other birds
and lighting
among the Hebrews
they took them with their hands as food prepared for them of
God. The Targum of Jonathan calls them pheasants; some think they were locusts;
but of this See Gill on Numbers 11:31.
These here seem to have come up one evening only
whereas
in the place
referred to
they had them a whole month together:
and covered the
camp: their numbers were so many
as indeed such a prodigious company
of people as those were required a great number to satisfy them with. These
quails
which were sent in the evening
at the close of the day
were an emblem
of worldly things
which are not the portion of the saints and people of God
what they are to live upon
and take up their satisfaction in; nor are they
abiding
but transitory things
which come and go
make themselves wings and
fly away toward heaven:
and in the
morning the dew lay round about the host; the camp of Israel; or a
lay of dewF13שכבת הטל
"cubatio roris"
Montanus
Piscator
Cartwright; "accubitus
roris"
Drusius; "situs vel stramentum roris"
Munster.
an emblem of the grace of God
and the blessings of it
see Hosea 14:6.
Exodus 16:14 14 And when the layer of dew
lifted
there
on the surface of the wilderness
was a small round substance
as
fine as frost on the ground.
YLT 14and the lying of the dew goeth up
and lo
on
the face of the wilderness a thin
bare thing
thin as hoar-frost on the earth.
And when the
dew that lay was gone up
.... Exhaled by the sun upon the rising of it:
behold
upon
the face of the wilderness; upon the surface of it
all around the camp
of Israel:
there lay a
small round thing
as small as the hoar frost on the ground; which is what
is in the next verse called "manna". Before the sun rose there was
nothing but a dew to be seen; when that was gone off through the force of the
sun
then the manna appeared; which was but a "small thing"
and very
unpromising for food
and especially for such a vast number of people; and a
"round" thing
for which it is after compared to a coriander seed
as
is thought; though the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan do not interpret the word
of the round form
but rather refer to its smallness; and which is expressed in
the Vulgate Latin version
"small
and as if beat with a pestle;'and for
its white colour
as well as its smallness
it looked like hoar frost on the
ground. Jarchi says there were two dews
within which it lay as something
covered in a box
and he seems to be right; for it is certain from Numbers 11:9
that
there was a dew which fell first
and then the manna fell upon it; and from
hence it is plain also
that there was a dew over the manna
which went up from
it when the sun rose: and the design of this seems to be to keep this heavenly
bread pure and clean for the Israelites
that it might neither partake of the
dust nor sand of the wilderness where it fell
and that nothing might light
upon it until the time of gathering it came. The Jews
in memory of this
will
sometimes put bread upon the table between two table clothsF14Vid.
Fagium in loc. ; and it is highly probable
that to this the allusion is of the
"hidden manna" in Revelation 2:17
by
which is meant our Lord Jesus Christ
the antitype of this manna
as will be
observed as we pass on
in all the circumstances of it; the manna came with the
dew
and was covered with it
and hid in it; Christ is the gift of God's free
grace to the sons of men
and is exhibited in the word of grace
where he lies
hid to men in the glory of his person and the fulness of his grace
until
revealed and made known. The figure of the manna being "round"
which
is a perfect figure
may denote the perfection of Christ in his person
natures
and office; he being perfectly God and perfectly man
having all the
essential perfections both of the divine and human natures in him
as well as
all fulness of grace; and being made perfect through sufferings
is become a
complete Saviour
and by his blood
righteousness
and sacrifice
has perfected
for ever his sanctified ones: and the manna being "small"
may
signify the meanness of Christ in the eyes of men in his state of humiliation
and the unpromising appearance he made of being the Saviour and King of Israel;
the white colour of it may direct to the purity of Christ
to the holiness of
his natures
and the beauty of his person
being white and ruddy
the chiefest
among ten thousands.
Exodus 16:15 15 So when the children of
Israel saw it
they said to one another
“What is it?” For they did not
know what it was. And Moses said to them
“This is the bread
which the Lord
has given you to eat.
YLT 15And the sons of Israel see
and say one unto
another
`What [is] it?' for they have not known what it [is]; and Moses saith
unto them
`It [is] the bread which Jehovah hath given to you for food.
And when the
children of Israel saw it
.... As they could not but observe it
it
being spread over the face of the wilderness; and besides
as they were told
that in the morning they should have bread to the full
they were up early to
look after it:
they said one
to another
it is manna; not such as is known by that name now
which is only used in medicine; nor anything that was then known by any such
name; but so they called it
because it was
as Jarchi says
a preparation of
food
or food ready prepared for them
from מנה
"manah"
which signifies to appoint
prepare
and distribute
see Daniel 1:5
so
Christ is appointed of God
and prepared in his purposes and decrees
and
delivered out
by his grace as proper food for his people
who have everyone
their portion in due season: for Kimchi and Ben Melech give the sense of the
word
a gift and portion from God; and such is Christ
the gift of his grace
and an unspeakable one. Some think these words were spoken by the Israelites on
first sight of the manna
by way of question
"Man hu
what is it?"
and so JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 3. c. 1. sect. 6. says it signifies in
their language; but it does not appear that the word is so used in the Hebrew
tongue
though it might in the Syriac or Chaldee
which was more in use in the
times of Josephus. But it can hardly be thought that the Israelites could speak
in either of these dialects at this time; it is much more probable what others
say
that it so signifies in the Egyptian tongue; and it is not at all to be
wondered at that Israel
just come out of Egypt
should use an Egyptian word:
and this best agrees with the reason that follows
"for they wist not what
it was"; which contradicts our version; for if they knew not what it was
how came they to call it manna? but taking the above words as an interrogation
asking one another what it was
those come in very pertinently
and assign a
reason of the question
because they were ignorant of it
having never seen any
such thing before; and this sense is confirmed by what Moses says in the next
clause
telling them what it was: and thus Christ is unknown to his own people
until he is revealed unto them; not by flesh and blood
by carnal reason or
carnal men
but by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
and he remains always unknown to natural men
though ever so wise and prudent:
and Moses said
unto them
this is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat; which he had
promised them the day before
and which he had now rained in plenty about them;
and which they had as a free gift of his
without any merit and desert of
theirs
and without their labour
diligence
and industry
and which they had
now power from him to eat of freely and plentifully.
Exodus 16:16 16 This is the thing which
the Lord
has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need
one omer
for each person
according to the number of persons; let every man take
for those who are in his tent.’”
YLT 16`This [is] the thing which Jehovah hath
commanded: Gather of it each according to his eating
an omer for a poll; and
the number of your persons
take ye each for those in his tent.'
This is the
thing which the Lord hath commanded
.... Respecting the
gathering of it
the rule or rules he would have observed concerning that
as
follows:
gather of it
every man according to his eating; according to his
appetite
and according to the appetites of those that were in his family
as
much as they can all eat; and that they may have enough
the particular
quantity is fixed for each of them. This act of gathering
in the mystical
sense
may respect the exercise of faith on Christ
laying hold of him as he is
held forth in the word
receiving him
and feeding upon him with a spiritual
appetite
and that freely
largely
plentifully
and encouraging others to do
the same:
an omer for
every man; or head
or by pollF16לג לג לת "ad caput"
Montanus; "pro capite"
Fagius
Drusius
Cartwright; so Ainsworth. ;
they were to take the poll of their families
the number of them
and reckon to
every head
or assign to every man
such a measure of the manna
and which was
sufficient for a man of the keenest appetite; what this measure was; see Gill
on Exodus 16:36 This
must be understood not of sucking infants
and such that were sick and infirm
and of poor appetites
that could not feed upon and digest such sort of food
only of those that could:
according to the number of your persons
take ye every man for them which
are in his tent: this was to be done after it was gathered and brought in
either
by certain overseers of this affair
or heads of families
who
according to
the number of those that were in their tents
who were eaters of such sort of
food
was to take an omer of it for everyone of them.
Exodus 16:17 17 Then the children of
Israel did so and gathered
some more
some less.
YLT 17And the sons of Israel do so
and they
gather
he who is [gathering] much
and he who is [gathering] little;
And the
children of Israel did so
.... They went out of the camp in the
morning when it was fallen
and gathered it; which is expressive of believers
going out of the camp
leaving the world
and all behind them for Christ; and
of their going out of themselves to him
and of their going in and out
and
finding pasture and food for their souls in him to live upon: and gathered some
more
some less; some that were more robust and strong
that were more active
and diligent
gathered in more than others; which may denote the different
degree and exercise of faith in God's people; some are strong in it
and others
weak; some attain to a greater degree of knowledge of Christ
and receive more
grace from him
and have more spiritual peace
joy
and comfort in believing
and others less; see Romans 15:1.
Exodus 16:18 18 So when they measured it
by omers
he who gathered much had nothing left over
and he who gathered
little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
YLT 18and they measure with an omer
and he who is
[gathering] much hath nothing over
and he who is [gathering] little hath no
lack
each according to his eating they have gathered.
And when they
did mete it with an omer
.... What was gathered in; and everyone had his measure
his omer
dealt out to him by those that meted or measured it:
he that
gathered much had nothing over
and he that gathered little had no lack; when their
gatherings were put together in one heap
and each had his omer measured out to
him; he that had gathered more than an omer had no more allotted to him
and he
that gathered not so much as an omer
yet had a full one measured out to him:
or he
that is
Moses
"did not cause him to abound"F17העדיף "et non abundare fecit"
Montanus.
that
gathered much
he had no more for his share than another; nor
"suffer" him "to want"F18לא
החסיר "non minoravit"
Montanus; "non
defuit"
Tigurine version. that gathered little
so that they all had
alike; which shows
that though there may be different exercises of grace
yet
it is the same grace in all; all have alike precious faith
and an equal
interest in Christ
the object of it; all are equally redeemed by his precious
blood
and justified by his righteousness
and have their sins forgiven on the
foot of his atonement; all have the same Christ
and the same blessings of
grace
and are entitled to the same eternal glory and happiness. The apostle
quotes this passage
and applies it to that equality there should be among
Christians in acts of beneficence and charity
that what is wanting in the one
through poverty
may be made up by the riches of others
2 Corinthians 8:14
they gathered
every man according to his eating; according to the number
of persons he had to eat of it; there always was
upon an average
some
gathering more and others less
an omer gathered and distributed to every
person. Jarchi takes this to be a miracle
that nothing should ever be wanting
of an omer to a man; and so Aben Ezra observes
that the ancients say this is a
miracle.
Exodus 16:19 19 And Moses said
“Let no
one leave any of it till morning.”
YLT 19And Moses saith unto them
`Let no man leave
of it till morning;'
And Moses said
unto them
.... At the same time he gave the direction to them about
gathering it
and measuring out to every man an omer:
let no man
leave of it until the morning; not that every man was bound to eat up the
quantity distributed to him; he might give what he could not eat to those that
could eat more
if there were any such; or he might give it to his cattle
or
cast it away
but he was not to reserve it until the next day for his use;
which was to teach him that God would bestow this benefit and blessing on him
daily
and he might expect it
whose mercies are new every morning; and to
instruct him to live every day upon the providence of God for his daily food;
as indeed every man ought to do so
let his circumstances be ever so affluent;
and
in a more spiritual and evangelic sense
it teaches believers to live
continually every day by faith on Christ
and to say day by day
Lord
evermore
give us this bread
John 6:34.
Exodus 16:20 20 Notwithstanding they did
not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning
and it bred
worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
YLT 20and they have not hearkened unto Moses
and
some of them do leave of it till morning
and it bringeth up worms and
stinketh; and Moses is wroth with them.
Notwithstanding
they hearkened not unto Moses
.... That is
not all of them
some of them
did
and perhaps the far greater part of them:
but some of
them left it until the morning; out of distrust
for fear they should have
none the next day; being men of little faith
that could not trust God for a
supply for the morrow; the Targum of Jonathan says
these were Dathan and
Abiram; and so Jarchi:
and it bred
worms
and stank; or by an "hysteron proteron"
and transposition of the
words
the sense may be
that it stank
corrupted
and putrefied
and so
produced worms
in which order the words lie
Exodus 16:24
and
this was not from the nature of the manna to breed worms so soon
but God so
ordering and disposing it
that it should do so; for otherwise it would keep to
another day
as what was gathered on the sixth day kept to the seventh
and there
was a part of it kept for many ages
see Exodus 16:24
and
since the manna was of the meal kind
perhaps those worms it bred might be of
the weevil sort
as Scheuchzer conjecturesF19Physica Sacra
vol. 2.
p. 179. :
and Moses was
wroth with them; for breaking the commandment of God.
Exodus 16:21 21 So
they gathered it every morning
every man according to his need. And when the
sun became hot
it melted.
YLT 21And they gather it morning by morning
each
according to his eating; when the sun hath been warm
then it hath melted.
And they
gathered it every morning
.... From the time the morning began
during
four hours
or to the fourth hour
as the Targum of Jonathan; that is
till ten
o'clock in the morning: this was a very wonderful thing that bread should be
provided and rained every morning about the camp of Israel
in such plenty as
to be sufficient to feed such a vast body of people; and that for forty years
together:
every man
according to his eating; according to the number of persons he had in his family to eat
of it
and as much as everyone could eat; there never was any lack or scarcity
of it
but every morning there it was for them
and they gathered it
an omer
for everyone:
and when the
sun waxed hot
it melted; and so what was left ungathered
being exhaled by the sun and
laid up in the clouds
generated and increased
and became a provision to be
let down the next morning; it being the will of God that it should not be
trampled upon or exposed; and that the Israelites might be diligent
and not
neglect the time of gathering it: and the Targum of Jonathan says
from the
fourth hour
or ten o'clock and onward
the sun was hot upon it and melted it
which is the time of day when the sun is hottest: and some things
we may
observe
are hardened by the sun
and others are softened
as the manna was
even to a liquefaction; though otherwise it was of so hard a nature as to be
beaten in a mortar and ground in a mill
Numbers 11:8.
Exodus 16:22 22 And so it was
on the
sixth day
that they gathered twice as much bread
two omers for each
one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
YLT 22And it cometh to pass on the sixth day
they
have gathered a second bread
two omers for one
and all the princes of the
company come in
and declare to Moses.
And it came to
pass
that on the sixth day
.... Of the week
or from the first raining
of the manna
which was the same:
they gathered
twice as much bread; as they had used to do on other days
a greater quantity
falling
and which was more easily taken up:
two omers for
one man; or
"instead of one"F20לאחד
"pro uno"
Tigurine version. of one omer; so it turned out when they
came to measure what they had gathered; otherwise they had no intention in
gathering it
but lying in a great quantity
they gathered as much as they
could
or could well carry
and upon measuring it so it proved; for it does not
appear that Moses had as yet acquainted them what was to be
or would be
gathered on this day; nor had he any orders so to do from the Lord
only he was
told by him that so it would be
and accordingly it came to pass
see Exodus 16:5.
and all the
rulers of the congregation came and told Moses; what had happened
that
the people that day had gathered as much more as they had used to do on other
days: these seem to be the overseers of this affair
before whom what was
gathered was brought
and in whose presence it was measured
and who took care
that everyone should have his omer and no more: this makes it plain that the
people acted without design
and knew not that they were to gather on this day
double to other days; since the rulers knew nothing of it
nor of the reason of
it
and it can hardly be imagined that the people should know and the rulers be
ignorant.
Exodus 16:23 23 Then he said to them
“This is what the Lord
has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest
a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you
will bake today
and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves
all that remains
to be kept until morning.’”
YLT 23And he saith unto them
`It [is] that which
Jehovah hath spoken [of]; a rest -- a holy sabbath to Jehovah -- [is]
to-morrow; that which ye bake
bake; and that which ye boil
boil; and all that
is over
let rest for yourselves in charge till the morning.'
And he said
unto them
this is that which the Lord hath said
.... Which he had said to
Moses privately
for as yet he had said it to none else:
tomorrow is the
rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord; according to Jarchi
the
rulers asked Moses what this day was
different from other days
that double
the quantity should be gathered? from whence
he says
we learn
that Moses had
not as yet declared the sabbath to them; and this is indeed the first time we
read of one; and though
as there was divine worship before
there must be
times for it; but as there was as yet no certain place for worship
so no
certain time for it
but as it was appointed by the heads of families
or as
more families might agree unto and unite in; at least no day before this
appears to be a day of rest from servile labour
as well as for holy use and
service:
bake that which
ye will bake today
and seethe that ye will seethe; the phrase
"today" is not in the text
and not necessarily supplied; the sense
being plainly this
that they might take and boil what they would
and dress as
much of the manna as they pleased
and eat what they would
but not that they
were to bake and boil for the next day; for it is clear
by what follows
that
the manna of the next day was not dressed either way
for then it would be no
wonder that it did not stink; and as yet the law for not kindling a fire on the
sabbath day was not given; and therefore
for aught to the contrary
they might
roast or seethe on that day
or eat it as it was
as they themselves thought
fit:
and that which
remaineth over; what they did not bake
nor seethe
nor eat:
lay up for you
to be kept until the morning whereas on other days they were to leave
nothing of it till the morning
but destroy it or cast it away
whatever was
left uneaten.
Exodus 16:24 24 So they laid it up till
morning
as Moses commanded; and it did not stink
nor were there any worms in
it.
YLT 24And they let it rest until the morning
as
Moses hath commanded
and it hath not stank
and a worm hath not been in it.
And they laid
it up until the morning
as Moses bade
.... What was left of two
omers a man
what they had neither baked nor boiled:
and it did not
stink
neither was there any worm therein
which was the case
when
it was left or laid up on other days; and it showed that there was an
interposition of divine Providence in the keeping of it to this day
and clearly
confirmed it to be the will of God that this day should henceforward be to them
the rest of the holy sabbath.
Exodus 16:25 25 Then Moses said
“Eat that
today
for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you
will not find it in the field.
YLT 25And Moses saith
`Eat it to-day
for to-day
[is] a sabbath to Jehovah; to-day ye find it not in the field:
And Moses said
eat that today
.... That is
he said this on the seventh day in the morning
and
bid them eat of it whether baked or seethed
or as it was
or just as they
pleased; however
they had liberty to eat of it
and indeed they had no other
because none fell on this day:
for today is a
sabbath unto the Lord; a time of rest from labour
and to be employed in the service of
the Lord:
today ye shall
not find it in the field: should they seek for it
which they had no occasion to do
since
there was a sufficiency provided the day before; and this he said to prevent
their going out to seek for it
which
if out of curiosity or for any other
reason any of them should do
it would be in vain and fruitless.
Exodus 16:26 26 Six days you shall gather
it
but on the seventh day
the Sabbath
there will be none.”
YLT 26six days ye do gather it
and in the seventh
day -- the sabbath -- in it there is none.'
Six days ye
shall gather it
.... Day after day
every morning
as they had done the six days
past
so they should during their stay in the wilderness:
but on the
seventh day
which is the sabbath; which is repeated
being
a new thing
to impress it on their minds: in it there shall be none: no manna;
none shall fall
and so none can be gathered
and therefore it would be to no
purpose to go out and seek for it; as also there would be no need of it
since
they would always have a double portion on the sixth day.
Exodus 16:27 27 Now it happened that
some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather
but they found
none.
YLT 27And it cometh to pass on the seventh day
some of the people have gone out to gather
and have not found.
And it came to
pass
.... Perhaps the next seventh day following:
that there went out some of the people for to gather; to gather
manna
as on other days; which they did not through want of provision or a
greedy appetite
for they had bread every day
and on that day to the full
but
to gratify their curiosity
or to see whether the words of Moses stood
as Aben
Ezra expresses it
that is
whether what he said was true
or came to pass
that there should be none
and they should not be able to find any on that day
and so it was:
and they found
none; no manna; in the places where they used to find it in plenty on
other days.
Exodus 16:28 28 And the Lord said to Moses
“How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws?
YLT 28And Jehovah saith unto Moses
`How long have
ye refused to keep My commands
and My laws?
And the Lord
said unto Moses
.... Who had seen and taken notice of what those men had done
who went out into the field to seek for manna on the seventh day
and was
displeased with it
and therefore spoke to Moses out of the cloud:
how long refuse
ye to keep my commandments and my laws? this is not said merely
with respect to their breach of the commandment of the sabbath
as if they had
long refused to observe and keep that; whereas that was but one command
and
but just given; but upon their breach of that
he takes occasion to upbraid
them with their former transgressions of other laws of his
and which they had
continued in
or at least were frequently committing; and which was a proof of
their perverseness and rebellion against him
though he was so kind and
bountiful to them.
Exodus 16:29 29 See! For the Lord has given you
the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let
every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh
day.”
YLT 29see
because Jehovah hath given to you the
sabbath
therefore He is giving to you on the sixth day bread of two days;
abide ye each [in] his place
no one doth go out from his place on the seventh
day.'
See
for that
the Lord hath given you the sabbath
.... These are either the
words of Jehovah
the Angel of the Lord
out of the cloud continued; or the
words of Moses to the children of Israel
upon what the Lord had said to him
and would have them observe and take notice
that whereas the Lord had given
them a sabbath
or enjoined them a day of rest:
therefore he
giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; wherefore
they had no occasion to go out in search of manna
as well as it was a vain
thing to do it; and especially as it was against a command of God
and being
ungrateful in them
as there was such a provision made for them:
abide ye every
man in his place; in his tent for that day
giving himself up to religious
exercises
to pray and praise
instruct his family
and in all things serve the
Lord he was directed to:
let no man go
out of his place on the seventh day; not beyond two thousand
cubits
as the Targum of Jonathan
which is the space the Jews generally fix
upon for a man to walk on a sabbath day
so far he might go and no further; and
which perhaps is the same space as is called a sabbath day's journey; see Gill
on Acts 1:12.
Exodus 16:30 30 So the people rested on
the seventh day.
YLT 30And the people rest on the seventh day
So the people
rested on the seventh day. Did not attempt to go out of their tents in
quest of manna
as on other days
and observed it as a day of rest from labour
and so they continued to do in successive generations.
Exodus 16:31 31 And
the house of Israel called its name Manna.[a] And it was
like white coriander seed
and the taste of it was like wafers made
with honey.
YLT 31and the house of Israel call its name Manna
and it [is] as coriander seed
white; and its taste [is] as a cake with honey.
And the house
of Israel called the name thereof manna
.... For till now they
had given it no name; which shows that the words are not to be read as we
render them in Exodus 16:15 it is
manna
unless this is to be considered as a confirmation of that name; but
rather as an interrogation
"what is it?" though
from thence
"man" being the first word they made use of on sight of it
might so
call it; or as others
from its being now an appointed
prepared
portion and
gift
which they every day enjoyed; see Gill on Exodus 16:15
and it was like
coriander seed
white that the colour of the manna was white is not only here asserted
but is plain from other passages
it being like the hoar frost
which is white
Exodus 16:14 and
its colour is the colour of bdellium
Numbers 11:7 or
pearl
which is of a white bright colour
as the word is interpreted by the
Jews; and who sayF21T. Bab. Yoma
fol. 75. 1.
that the manna was
round as a coriander seed
and white as a pearl; but then if it is here
compared to the coriander seed on that account
some other seed than what we
call coriander seed must be meant
since that is off darkish colour; though it
is thought by most that the comparison with it is not on account of the colour
but its form being round
as a coriander seed is
and as the manna is said to be
Exodus 16:14.
JosephusF23Antiqu. l. 3. c. 1. sect. 6. thinks it is compared to the
coriander seed for its being about the size of that seed; though I must confess
it seems to me to be compared to the coriander seed for its colour
and
therefore "Gad"
the word used
must signify something else than what
we call coriander seed; but what that is
is not easy to say: Ben Gersom is of
the same mind
and thinks it refers to colour
and fancies the "Gad"
had his name from his whiteness
Genesis 20:11.
ArtapanusF24Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 436.
the
Heathen
makes mention of this food of the Jews in the wilderness
where
he
says
they were thirty years; during which time God rained upon them meal like
to panic (a sort of grain like millet)
in colour almost as white as snow: and
the taste of it was like wafers made with honey; or cakes that had honey mixed
in them: though in Numbers 11:8 the
taste of it is said to be as the taste of fresh oil
which Saadiah Gaon
Aben
Ezra
and others
account for thus; that if a man ate of it as it came down
it
was as cakes of honey
but
when dressed
it was as the taste of fresh oil;
however
it was very palatable and agreeable to the taste; honey that drops
from palm trees is said to be not much different in taste from oil: the JewsF25Shemot
Rabba
sect 25. fol. 108. 4. & Bemidar Rabba
sect. 7. fol. 188. have a
notion that there were all kinds of tastes in the manna
suited to the ages and
appetites of persons
and that as they would have it
so it tasted; which
notion the author of the book of Wisdom seems to give into
"Instead
whereof thou feddest thine own people with angels' food
and didst send them
from heaven bread prepared without their labour
able to content every man's
delight
and agreeing to every taste. For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness
unto thy children
and serving to the appetite of the eater
tempered itself to
every man's liking.' (Wisdom 16:20-21)Leo
AfricanusF26Descriptio Africae
l. 7. p. 631. speaks of a sort of
manna found in great plenty in the deserts in Libya
which the inhabitants
gather in vessels every morning to carry to market
and which being mixed with
water is drank for delight
and being put into broth has a very refreshing
virtue: of the round form and white colour of manna
as applicable to Christ
notice has been taken on Exodus 16:14 and
the sweetness of its taste well agrees with him the antitype: his person is so
to them who have tasted that the Lord is gracious; his word or Gospel is
sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb; his mouth is most sweet
the doctrines
that proceed from it
and the exceeding great and precious promises of it; his
fruits and the blessings of his grace
peace
pardon
righteousness
&c.
are sweet to those that sit under his shadow
where faith often feeds sweetly
and with delight upon him
Exodus 16:32 32 Then Moses said
“This is
the thing which the Lord
has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it
to be kept for 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.’”
YLT 32And Moses saith
`This [is] the thing which
Jehovah hath commanded: Fill the omer with it
for a charge for your
generations
so that they see the bread which I have caused you to eat in the
wilderness
in My bringing you out from the land of Egypt.'
And Moses said
.... At
another time
though it is here inserted to give the account of the mamma all
together:
this is the
thing which the Lord commandeth; namely
what follows:
fill an omer of
it to be kept for your generations; which was the quantity
allowed a man every day; this measure was to be laid up
and reserved for
posterity in future generations
not to eat
nor so much as taste of
for then
it would soon have been gone
but to look at
as follows:
that they may
see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness
when I brought you
out of the land of Egypt; that they might see what sort of food was provided for them
and
what quantity each man had of it every day; and so have an ocular proof of the
wisdom
power
and goodness of God
in providing for their support in a
wilderness
where no supplies were to be had; and when they were just come out
of an enemy's country: thus Christ is the food of his people
while they are in
the wilderness of this world; and is never so until they are brought out of the
state of nature's darkness and bondage
like that of the Egyptians; and who
being the food of the saints in ages past
is presented to the eye of faith
for its encouragement to look to him and believe in him
receive
embrace
and
feed upon him.
Exodus 16:33 33 And Moses said to Aaron
“Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it
and lay it up before the Lord
to be kept
for your generations.”
YLT 33And Moses saith unto Aaron
`Take one pot
and put there the fulness of the omer of manna
and let it rest before Jehovah
for a charge for your generations;'
And Moses said
unto Aaron
take a pot
.... The Targum of Jonathan calls it an earthen pot; and so
Jarchi; which
if it could be supported
might be considered as an emblem of
the ministers of the word
in whom
as in earthen vessels
the Gospel of Christ
is put: Aben Ezra says
it was a vessel either of earth or brass
which latter
is more likely for duration; since an earthen vessel can hardly be supposed to
continue so long as this did
and much less a glass pot
as others take it to
be: but the Septuagint version renders it a golden pot; and so it is said to be
by Philo the JewF1De Cong. Quaer. Erud. Gratia
p. 438.
and which
is confirmed by the apostle
Hebrews 9:4 and
which puts the thing out of question; and this may denote the word and
ordinances which retain and hold forth Christ as the bread of life
and are a
memorial of him
as evidently set forth
crucified
and slain
to future ages
comparable to gold; both for the preciousness of them
being more to be desired
than gold
yea
than fine gold
and for the duration of them
they being to
continue until the second coming of Christ:
and put an omer
full of manna therein; the manna
and the full measure of it
according to a man's
eating
was to be put into it
denoting that a full Christ
or Christ in all
the fulness of his person and grace
is to be held forth in the word and
ordinances to the eye of faith:
and lay it up
before the Lord
to be kept for your generations; in a place where the
Lord would hereafter fix the symbol of his presence
the ark
cherubim
and
mercy seat; and may signify the presence of Christ with his Father
the
efficacy of his blood
righteousness
and sacrifice
his mediation and
intercession; for he is not only held forth in the word
for faith to look at
but he is before the throne as though he had been slain
Revelation 5:6.
Exodus 16:34 34 As the Lord commanded
Moses
so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony
to be kept.
YLT 34as Jehovah hath given commandment unto Moses
so doth Aaron let it rest before the Testimony
for a charge.
As the Lord
commanded Moses
so Aaron laid it up before the testimony
to be kept. That is
before the ark of the testimony; when that was made
as it was in a little time
after this
called the testimony
because it contained in it the law
which was
a testimony or testification of the mind and will of God unto Israel
see Exodus 25:16 the
apostle says
the pot of manna was in the ark
Hebrews 9:4 that
is
on one side of it; see Gill on Hebrews 9:4.
Exodus 16:35 35 And the children of Israel
ate manna forty years
until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna
until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.
YLT 35And the sons of Israel have eaten the manna
forty years
until their coming in unto the land to be inhabited; the manna
they have eaten till their coming in unto the extremity of the land of Canaan.
And the
children of Israel did eat manna forty years
.... Wanting thirty days
as Jarchi observes; reckoning from their coming out of Egypt
and the passover
they kept there
to their coming to the borders of the land of Canaan to
Gilgal
and keeping the passover there
when the manna ceased
were just forty
years; but then they had been out of Egypt a month before the manna fell; but
the round number is given
as is common: it was on the sixteenth of Ijar
the
second month
the manna fell; and it was in the month of Nisan
about the
sixteenth or seventeenth of the month
that it ceased
see Joshua 5:10.
until they came
to a land inhabited: where the ground was cultivated
and corn was produced to make
bread of
which could not be had in a wilderness; and therefore God graciously
provided for them every day
and fed them with manna till they came to such a
place:
they did eat
manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan; that is
Gilgal: the Targum of Jonathan is
"they ate manna forty years in the life
of Moses
until they came unto the land of habitation; they ate manna forty
days after his death
until they passed over Jordan
and entered the
extremities of the land of Canaan:'some have thought this verse was not written
by Moses
but Joshua
or some other hand after his death since he did not live
quite to the cessation of the manna; which need not be much disputed or
objected to; though it may be considered that Moses led Israel to the borders
of the land of Canaan
though he did not go with them so far as Gilgal
and
died before the manna ceased; yet
as he was assured of it
he could write this
in certain faith of it
and especially by a spirit of prophecy: this signifies
that the children of God are to live by faith upon Christ
while they are in
the wilderness of this world; nor will this spiritual food be wanting to them
while in it; but when they are come to Canaan's land
to the heavenly glory
they will no more walk and live by faith
but by sight: the word and ordinances
will then cease; Christ will be no more held forth to them in that way
but
they shall see him as he is
and behold his glory
Exodus 16:36 36 Now an omer is
one-tenth of an ephah.
YLT 36and the omer is a tenth of the ephah.
Now an omer is
the tenth part of an ephah. Frequent mention being made of this measure
in the above relation
as containing the quantity of each man's share of the
manna daily
during the forty years' stay in the wilderness; an account is
given by the historian how much it contained
by which it may appear what a
sufficient provision was made: an ephah
according to Jarchi
contained three
seahs (or pecks); a scab
six kabs; a kab
four logs; a log
six egg shells;
and the tenth part of an ephah was forty three egg shells
and the fifth part
of one: but Dr. CumberlandF2Of Scripture Weights and Measures
ch.
3. p. 64
86
87. ch. 4. p. 137. has reduced this to our measure
and has given
it more clearly and distinctly; an ephah
according to him
contained
in wine
measure
seven gallons
two quarts
and about half a pint; in corn measure
six
gallons
three pints
and three solid inches; and an omer three quarts; which
being made into bread
must be more than any ordinary man could well eat; for
as Ainsworth observes
an omer was twice as much as the choenix
(a measure
mentioned in Revelation 6:6.)
which was wont to be a man's allowance of bread corn for a day; and what a vast
quantity must fall every day to supply so large a number of people with such a
measure; some have reckoned it at 94
466 bushels every day
and that there must
be consumed in forty years 1
379
203
600 bushelsF3Vid. Scheuchzer.
Physic. Saer. vol. 2. p. 177
178. .
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New
King James Version (NKJV)
a.
Exodus 16:31
Literally What? (compare Exodus 16:15)