Exodus 16:8

8 Moses said, "Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it's God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven't been complaining to us - you've been complaining to God!"

Exodus 16:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 16:8

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" ^F11, 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 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 4:8 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (emvb) "testabitur se audisse", Tigurine version.

Exodus 16:8 In-Context

6 Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is God who brought you out of Egypt;

7 and in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he's listened to your complaints against him. You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against God."

8 Moses said, "Since it will be God who gives you meat for your meal in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, it's God who will have listened to your complaints against him. Who are we in all this? You haven't been complaining to us - you've been complaining to God!"

9 Moses instructed Aaron: "Tell the whole company of Israel: 'Come near to God. He's heard your complaints.'"

10 When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.