Exodus 16:22

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH BREAD, TWO OMERS FOR ONE MAN: AND ALL THE RULERS OF THE CONGREGATION CAME AND TOLD MOSES._ On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread. The people did so of their own accord, judging from the unusual quantity that had fallen that it was a provision for the Sabbath; and their conduct can be accounted for on no other hypothesis than that of its being a human existing institution. The announcement (Exodus 16:5) had been privately made to Moses; and there is no reason to believe that it had been communicated either to the people or to the rulers before the sixth day. AND ALL THE RULERS OF THE CONGREGATION CAME AND TOLD MOSES. Since the gathering of a double quantity had been so general, the attention of the elders or princes in the various tribes was directed to the circumstance; and wheth

22._And it came to pass on the sixth day. _The violation of the Sabbath is not yet recounted, but only the stupidity or dense ignorance of their rulers is set forth, for although they had heard from the mouth of Moses that God would on that day give what would be sufficient for two days’ provision, still they marvel, and tell it to Moses as if it were something strange and incredible. It is plain enough that they obeyed the command, and did not spare their labor in gathering the double quantity; but their unbelief and folly betrays itself in their astonishment when they see that God has really performed what he promised. We may conjecture that they accurately observed what awakened in them so much astonishment; so that it follows that they refused to credit God’s word until its truth was effectively proved. It came to pass, then, in God’s admirable wisdom, that their wicked and perverse...

22-31 Here is mention of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known, not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning, Genesis 2:3. The setting apart one day in seven for holy work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was ever since God created man upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. Appointing them to rest on the seventh day, he took care that they should be no losers by it; and none ever will be losers by serving God. On that day they were to fetch in enough for two days, and to make it ready. This directs us to contrive family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the life that is...

Verse Exodus 16:22. _ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH_] This they did that they might have a provision for the Sabbath, for on that day no manna fell, Exodus 16:26-2. What a convincing miracle was this! No manna fell on the Sabbath! Had it been a _natural_ production it would have fallen on the _Sabbath_ as at other times; and had there not been a supernatural influence to keep it sweet and pure, it would have been corrupted on the Sabbath as well as on other days. By this series of miracles God showed his own power, presence, and goodness, 1. In sending the _manna_ on each of the six days; 2. In sending _none_ on the seventh, or Sabbath; 3. In preserving it from putrefaction when laid up for the use of _that_ _day_, though it infal

TWICE AS MUCH BREAD - See Exodus 16:5. From this passage and from Exodus 16:5 it is inferred that the seventh day was previously known to the people as a day separate from all others, and if so, it must have been observed as an ancient and primeval institution....

EXPOSITION THE GATHERING OF THE SIXTH DAY. When the Israelites, having collected what seemed to them the usual quantity of manna on the sixth day, brought it home and measured it, they found the yield to be, not an omer a head for each member of the family, but two omers. The result was a surprise and a difficulty. They could not consume more than an omer a-piece. What was to be done with the remainder? Was it to be destroyed, or kept? If kept, would it not "breed worms"? To resolve their doubts, the elders brought the matter before Moses, who replied—"This is that which the Lord hath said." It is to be supposed that, in his original announcement to the elders of God's purposes as to the manna, Moses had informed them that the quantity would be double on the sixth day (Exodus 16:5

AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY,.... Of the week, or from the first raining of the manna, which was the same: THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH BREAD; as they had used to do on other days, a greater quantity falling, and which was more easily taken up: TWO OMERS FOR ONE MAN; or, "instead of one" t of one omer; so it turned out when they came to measure what they had gathered; otherwise they had no intention in gathering it, but lying in a great quantity, they gathered as much as they could, or could well carry, and upon measuring it so it proved; for it does not appear that Moses had as yet acquainted them what was to be, or would be gathered on this day; nor had he any orders so to do from the Lord, only he was told by him that so it would be, and accordingly it came to pass, see Exodus 16:5 and all the rulers of the congregation came

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,...

ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH BREAD— In Exodus 16:5 this order is given; and we have here a further proof of the peculiarity of this manna, of its difference from the common sort, as well as of the immediate interposition of God respecting it. For though, when preserved on ordinary days till _the next morning, it bred worms and stank;_ yet, when laid up for the sabbath-day, no such consequence ensued, but it remained sweet and proper for use. What a striking lesson to the people of Israel! _AND ALL THE RULERS OF THE CONGREGATION CAME AND TOLD MOSES_— There can be no doubt that Moses had informed the children of Israel of that great peculiarity which God notified to him, respecting the double portion of manna to be gathered on the sixth day of the week. The people were attentive to it; and, struck with awful surprise upon finding it to be as Moses had inform