Exodus 16:10

_AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO AARON, SAY UNTO ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, COME NEAR BEFORE THE LORD: FOR HE HATH HEARD YOUR MURMURINGS._ Come near before the Lord ... they looked toward the wilderness. They were called to leave their tents, and stand looking toward the wilderness of Sin, over which the cloud was hovering; and in the awful phase which that cloud then exhibited-in the light that glared from it they witnessed the majesty of God; while in the sounds that were heard from it they received at once a rebuke to their own reproaches, and a confirmation of the veracity of His servants....

1-12 The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent by the middle of the second month, and they murmured. It is no new thing for the greatest kindness to be basely represented as the greatest injuries. They so far undervalue their deliverance, that they wished they had died in Egypt; and by the hand of the Lord, that is, by the plagues which cut off the Egyptians. We cannot suppose they had plenty in Egypt, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness, while they had flocks and herds: none talk more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to fret, we ought to consider, that God hears all our murmurings. God promises a speedy and constant supply. He tried whether they would trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day. Thus he tried if they would serve him, and it appeared how ungrateful they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them...

Verse Exodus 16:10. _AS AARON SPAKE_] So he now became the spokesman or minister of Moses to the Hebrews, as he had been before unto Pharaoh; according to what is written, Exodus 7:1, c....

APPEARED IN THE CLOUD - Or, “was seen in a cloud.” The definite article would imply that the cloud was the same which is often mentioned in connection with the tabernacle. The people saw the cloud here spoken of beyond the camp....

EXPOSITION THE PROMISE FULFILLED. Moses had made a double promise to the Israelites in God's name. "The Lord shall give you," he had said," in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full" (Exodus 16:8). And now the time for the fulfilment of the double promise approached. First, however, before they received the blessings, he required them to present themselves before the Lord. As they had rebelled in murmuring, an act of homage was proper; and as they had called in question the conduct of Moses and Aaron. some token that God approved the action of these his faithful servants, and would support them, was needed. Hence the appearance of the Lord to the congregation in the cloud (Exodus 16:10). After this, when evening approached

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 16:1. _And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:_ They have been only about six weeks in the wilderness, and already they are up in arms against their leaders. Remember that we have the same kind of people to deal with as Moses and Aaron had. The children of Israel were no better than any other nation; and I do not think they were any worse. We may take them as a fair average of human nature, which is a discontented, rebellious thing in the best of circumstances. Exodus 16:3. A

XVI. MANNA AND QUAILS (Exodus 16:1 P, Exodus 16:4 a(b) - Exodus 16:5 J, (Exodus 16:6 f., Exodus 16:8) Rp, Exodus 16:9 a (morning) P, Exodus 16:13 b - Exodus 16:15 J, Exodus 16:16 P,...

AS AARON SPAKE... THEY LOOKED TOWARD THE WILDERNESS. While Aaron, at the command of Moses, spake to the people, the cloudy pillar, which had probably moved in advance of the congregation, in the direction in which they were journeying towards the wilderness region of Arabia, began to glow with the presence and glory of the Lord. An unwonted glowing, fiery brightness appeared in the guiding pillar. Its preternatural, resplendent appearance was obviously understood as. token of the Lord's displeasure....

THEY LOOKED TOWARD THE WILDERNESS, AND—THE GLORY OF THE LORD, &C.— It would seem, from this expression, as if the pillar of _cloud_ was now removed to some distance from them; or perhaps it appeared not when they were stationed, being visible only when it conducted them in their marches: or, if it did constantly appear, the phrase _toward the wilderness_ must here mean toward the front of their army. REFLECTIONS.—Fresh difficulties produce fresh murmurs. We have here, 1. The despairing impatience of the people for want of bread. Their provision being exhausted, they see nothing but death before them, and charge Moses as the murderer. What! had God so eminently spared their lives, to bring them to their graves in the wilderness? And had Moses any concern at heart but their good? Yet so deaf are they to reason, that they basely wish to be in Egypt again, though they should die there under...