Exodus Chapter 16
Manna and Quail
1 The fifteenth day, second month after they left Egypt, they went from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, 2 They criticized Moses and Aaron in the desert, 3 “If only the LORD had killed us in Egypt when we sat by pots of meat and ate bread till we were full. You’ve brought us out to this empty place to starve to death.”
Ex 16:1-3
4 The LORD told Moses,
“I’ll rain bread from the sky, and they can go out each day and pick up a day’s supply. That will test whether they’ll follow my law: 5 On the sixth day, they’ll prepare twice as much as on other days.”
6 Moses and Aaron told them,
“In the evening you’ll know the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 7 In the morning you’ll see his glory. He hears you complaining about him. Why are you complaining to us? 8 The LORD will give you bread in the morning and meat in the evening. You’re complaining to him more than to us.”
9Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole community to come into the LORD’s presence; he’s heard their complaining.” 10 As Aaron spoke to them, they looked toward the open country, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 11 He told Moses, 12 “I’ve heard them complaining. Tell them they’ll eat their fill of bread in the morning and meat in the evening. They’ll know I’m the LORD their God.”
Ex 16:4-12
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning, there was a coating of dew around the camp. 14 When it evaporated, a fine flakey residue like frost lay all over the countryside. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another what it was.
Moses told them,
“It’s the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 He has commanded everyone to gather as much as they’ll eat, .11 bushel 1 omer for each one in their tent.”
17 Some gathered a lot, some a little. 18 When they measured it with .11 bushel 1 omer, the ones that had gathered a lot didn’t have any left over. The ones that had gathered a little had enough. Everybody gathered enough to eat. 19 Moses told them not to leave any of it till morning. 20 But some did, and it bred maggots and spoiled. Moses was mad at them. 21 They gathered it each morning. When the sun got hot, it evaporated.
Ex 16:13-21
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much, .22 bushel 2 omers apiece. When the leaders of the community came and told Moses, 23 he said,
“The LORD said, ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to me. Bake what you’ll bake and boil what you’ll boil. What’s left over set aside till morning.’”
24 They did that, and it didn’t spoil or breed maggots.
25 Moses said, “Eat it today; it’s a Sabbath to the LORD. 26 Gather it six days; there won’t be any the seventh day.”
27 Some people did go out anyway, but they didn’t find any.
28 “How long will you refuse to follow my instructions? 29 The LORD gave you the Sabbath; he’ll provide bread for two days on the sixth day. Stay home the seventh day.”
30 The people rested that day.
Ex 16:22-30
31 Israel called it manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like honey-flavored wafers. 32-33 Moses told Aaron,
“The LORD has said to keep .11 bushel 1 omer of it in a jar so later generations can see what he fed us in the desert. Set it in front of the LORD.”
34 Aaron put it in front of the Testimony. 35 The Israelites ate it for 40 years, till they came to the border of Canaan, where people lived. ( 36 An omer is .11 bushels .1 ephah.)
Ex 16:31-36