Exodus 16:5

_AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY THEY SHALL PREPARE THAT WHICH THEY BRING IN; AND IT SHALL BE TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY GATHER DAILY._ On the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in. It was the sixth day of the week, not the sixth day by current reckoning from that on which the promise was made; and the preparation of the food of that day consisted, first, in measuring what they had gathered, according to the appointed standard; and, secondly, in grinding, baking, and seething it as meal (cf. Exodus 16:23; Numbers 11:8). AND IT SHALL BE TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY GATHER DAILY. The supply of a double quantity was promised on the sixth day. No reason was assigned for this deviation from the arrangement followed; and God, it appears, did not think that it was

5._And it shall come to pass. _Because mention is immediately made of the Sabbath, some would confine to its observance what is said respecting the law, and extract this sense from it, that God made the experiment whether the people would faithfully observe the rest enjoined to them on each seventh day. But there is a poorness in this explanation. The fact is, that after God had promised daily supplies to His people, He now adds the exception, viz., that on the sixth day they should collect a double quantity, and lay aside half of it for the use of the Sabbath. Thus the seventh day was really hallowed before the promulgation of the Law, although it is questionable whether it had already been observed by the patriarchs. It appears probable that it was; but I am unwilling to make it a matter of contention....

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...

IT SHALL BE TWICE AS MUCH - They should collect and prepare a double quantity....

EXPOSITION THE PROMISE OF BREAD FROM HEAVEN. When men who are in real distress make complaint, even though the tone of their complaint be not such as it ought to be, God in his mercy is wont to have compassion upon them, to "hear their mummurings," etc; and grant them some relief. But the relief is seldom of the kind which they expect, or pray for. The Israelites wished for actual bread, made of wheaten or barley flour. God gave them, not such bread, but a substitute for it. And first, before giving it, be promised that it should be given. Thus expectation was aroused; faith was exercised; the supernatural character of the relief was indicated; the power and the goodness of God, were, both of them, shown forth. And with the promise was given a law. They were on each occasion to gather no more than would suffice for the day. Thus they would continually "live by

AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT ON THE SIXTH DAY,.... Of the week, and from the raining of the bread, which was on the first day of the week: THEY SHALL PREPARE THAT WHICH THEY BRING IN; the Targum of Jonathan adds, to eat on the sabbath day; what they did not consume on the sixth day was to be prepared and reserved for the seventh day; that is, it was to be baked or boiled as they thought fit to have it, or eat it as it was, which they pleased, see Exodus 16:23 only one part of it was to be kept till the next day: AND IT SHALL BE TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY GATHER DAILY: on that day should be rained double what fell on other days, and so twice as much should be gathered up; the reason for which is not here mentioned, but afterwards given; though Moses no doubt was now made acquainted with it, or otherwise he could not have informed the princes and people of

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,...

THE MANNA. -- Exodus 16:4-12. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Jesus said unto them,. am the Bread of Life._ -- John 6:35. TIME. --B. C. 1491. The spring of the year. PLACES. --The Wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai. CONNECTING LINKS. --1. The Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-21); 2. The Bitter Waters of Marah (Exodus 15:22-26); 3. The Encampment at Elim (Exodus 15:27); 4. The Murmurs of the People (Exodus 16:1-3). HELPFUL READINGS

THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 16 AND THEY TOOK THEIR JOURNEY FROM E-LIM, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF IS-RA-EL CAME UNTO THE WILDERNESS OF SIN, WHICH IS BETWEEN E-IIM AND SI-NAI, ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH AFTER THEIR DEPARTING OUT OF THE LAND OF E-GYPT. (2) AND THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF IS-RA-EL MURMURED AGAINST MO-SES AND AGAINST AAR-ON IN THE WILDERNESS: (3) AND THE CHILDREN OF IS-RA-EL SAID UNTO THEM, WOULD THAT WE DIED BY THE HAND OF JE-HO-VAH IN THE LAND OF E-GYPT, WHEN WE SAT BY THE FLESH-POTS, WHEN WE DID EAT BREAD TO THE FULL; FOR YE HAVE BROUGHT US FORTH INTO THIS WILDERNESS, TO KILL THIS WHOLE ASSEMBLY WITH HUNGER. (4) Then said Je-ho-vah unto Mo-ses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. (5)...