16:1 Elim See note on 15:27.

the desert of Sin The precise location of the Wilderness of Sin is uncertain, but it likely refers to a central region of the Sinai Peninsula. This wilderness should not be confused with the Wilderness of Zin located southwest of the Dead Sea much closer to Canaan.

16:3 by the hand of Yahweh The people would prefer death by natural causes or old age in Egypt—even enslavement—over their current hunger.

hunger Despite proof that God controls the forces of nature, the Israelites complain. Their actions demonstrate a lack of faith in divine power and providence (compare 15:23–25).

16:4 bread from the heavens See vv. 14–21 (compare Psa 78:24, 25; 105:40; Neh 9:15).

Will they go according to my law or not? In addition to satisfying the people’s hunger, God sends manna (Exod 16:15) to test their character. The test foreshadows Sabbath regulations that will be outlined in the commandments given at Sinai (ch. 20) and ensuing case laws. See Deut 8:2–3.

16:6 has brought you out from the land of The phrasing is virtually identical to that associated with the Passover, which commemorated deliverance at the death of the firstborn of Egypt and the release from captivity (compare Exod 13:9, 16). The similarity in phrasing should have jolted the people to realize that they were questioning the ability of the same God who had brought about the plagues in Egypt.

16:7 the glory of Yahweh The first instance of this common biblical phrase—a translation of the Hebrew kevod yhwh. This phrase typically denotes the presence of God (see v. 10).

that you grumble against us Moses and Aaron admit that they cannot solve the problem—only God can through His power. God—not Moses and Aaron—is also the source of the testing and judgment that follow (see v. 8).

16:10 the glory of Yahweh appeared in the cloud Though the cloud is visible, the glory (kavod in Hebrew) will also be visible and distinct in appearance from the cloud. Other descriptions of the glory suggest that there was some sort of luminescence within the cloud (e.g., Ezek 10:4; 43:2).

16:12 you will eat meat Refers to the quail that appear in Exod 16:13.

you will be full with bread Identifies the manna of v. 15 (compare Psa 78:24; 105:40; Neh 9:15).

I am Yahweh your God The same phrase used to confront Pharaoh with the plagues (Exod 7:17). The link between the power and plagues is deliberate—it reminds the people that they are complaining against a God who controls the forces of nature.

16:13 quail Migratory birds that are still caught and eaten in the same regions described here. Quail migrate in large numbers. Because of long migrations, they often tire and fly very low to the ground, enabling people to catch them in nets or by hand (see Num 11:31–32). The quail were not a day-to-day food provision like the manna (see Exod 16:4–5; compare Num 11:4, 6, 13, 21–22). The quail come in the evening, and manna follows the next morning.

16:14 fine like frost In the ancient Near East, people thought dew came from the sky, like rain. Manna was thus also associated with the sky or heaven (Pss 78:24, 25; 105:40; Neh 9:15). Wisdom of Solomon—a Second Temple Jewish text—refers to manna as “angel’s food” (Wis 16:20).

16:15 What is this The Hebrew phrase used here is man hu. The Israelites accordingly name the bread man (translated “manna”). See Exod 16:31 (compare Num 11:7).

16:16 an omer In later times, an omer measured approximately a gallon. During the exodus, it likely represented a daily ration. Exodus 16:36 indicates that an omer was one-tenth of an ephah. An ephah was approximately 22 liters.

16:19 until morning The prohibition would test the Israelites’ faith—whether they trusted that God would provide the manna again the next morning.

16:20 they did not listen The Israelites’ faith is weak. The manna, saved by some on the previous day, spoiled overnight.

Moses was angry Moses is angered by the disobedience, but God does not withhold the manna the next day.

16:22 when it was the sixth day Hearkens back to the original test (v. 5) that foreshadows the Sabbath regulations. These regulations come with the law dispensed at Sinai. See v. 23.

two omers for one person Specifies two daily portions.

16:23 a holy Sabbath For more on the Sabbath, see note on Gen 2:2.

The Sabbath

16:28 keep my commands and my laws Again, God does not punish His people for their transgression. His patience at the beginning of the exodus journey contrasts later times, when the people have been to Sinai and received the law (e.g., Num 11:1; 14:2, 11, 27–29).

16:31 manna See note on Exod 16:15.

with honey Manna resembles no known modern-day natural phenomenon. The tamarisk bush produces a sweet white secretion that modern Bedouin call manna. Basically a sap, it does not match the description here or in v. 14 as something fine and flake-like on the ground. This sap also lacks the supernatural quality of manna (Num 11:7); it is seasonal, whereas the manna was provided day to day for 40 years (see Exod 16:35; compare Josh 5:12).

16:33 full omer of manna God commands that some manna be preserved as a cultural and religious relic.

before Yahweh Here, the manna is to be placed before Yahweh. In Exod 16:34, it is to be placed, as the Hebrew text phrases it, before the testimony (eduth in Hebrew). These two statements are not referring to two competing locations. Rather, both phrases come to label the sacred site where Yahweh’s earthly presence may be found (compare Lev 1:5). However, the ark and tabernacle had not yet been built (Exod 35–39) nor had Yahweh’s presence entered the tabernacle (ch. 40). Compare note on v. 34.

16:34 testimony The Hebrew text here uses the word eduth. One of the later labels used for the tabernacle is the mishkan ha’eduth (which may be translated “tabernacle of the testimony” or “tabernacle of the covenant law”; 38:21; Num 1:50; 10:11). Eduth is also used in the phrase “ark of the testimony”—a reference to the ark of the covenant (e.g., Exod 25:16; 26:34; see note on Num 4:5).