Exodus 16:4-15

4 The Lord said to Moses, "Now I am going to cause food to rain down from the sky for all of you. The people must go out every day and gather enough for that day. In this way I can test them to find out if they will follow my instructions. ¹

5 On the sixth day they are to bring in twice as much as usual and prepare it."

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt.

7 In the morning you will see the dazzling light of the Lord's presence. He has heard your complaints against him - yes, against him, because we are only carrying out his instructions."

8 Then Moses said, "It is the Lord who will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because he has heard how much you have complained against him. When you complain against us, you are really complaining against the Lord."

9 Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole community to come and stand before the Lord, because he has heard their complaints."

10 As Aaron spoke to the whole community, they turned toward the desert, and suddenly the dazzling light of the Lord appeared in a cloud.

11 The Lord said to Moses,

12 "I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them that at twilight they will have meat to eat, and in the morning they will have all the bread they want. Then they will know that I, the Lord, am their God."

13 In the evening a large flock of quails flew in, enough to cover the camp, and in the morning there was dew all around the camp.

14 When the dew evaporated, there was something thin and flaky on the surface of the desert. It was as delicate as frost.

15 When the Israelites saw it, they didn't know what it was and asked each other, "What is it?" ² Moses said to them, "This is the food that the Lord has given you to eat.

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Exodus 16:4-15 Meaning and Commentary

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, Ex 16:1-3, 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, Ex 16:4-12 which promise the Lord fulfilled; and a description of the bread, and the name of it, are given, Ex 16:13-15, and some instructions are delivered out concerning the quantity of it to be gathered, Ex 16:16-18, the time of gathering and keeping it, Ex 16:19-21, the gathering a double quantity on the sixth day for that and the seventh day, with the reason of it, Ex 16:22-30 and a further description of it, Ex 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, Ex 16:32-34, 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, Ex 16:35,36.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 2

1. 16.4 +2Wisdom 16.20-29; +1John 6.31.
2. 16.151 Corinthians 10.3.

Exodus 16:4-15

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Exodus 16:4-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 16

Cross References 2