Exodus 16:11-21

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?" ¹ Moses said to them, "This is the food that the Lord has given you to eat.

16 The Lord has commanded that each of you is to gather as much of it as he needs, two quarts for each member of his household."

17 The Israelites did this, some gathering more, others less.

18 When they measured it, those who gathered much did not have too much, and those who gathered less did not have too little. Each had gathered just what he needed. ²

19 Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it for tomorrow."

20 But some of them did not listen to Moses and saved part of it. The next morning it was full of worms and smelled rotten, and Moses was angry with them.

21 Every morning each one gathered as much as he needed; and when the sun grew hot, what was left on the ground melted.

Exodus 16:11-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. 16.151 Corinthians 10.3.
• 2. 16.182 Corinthians 8.15.