“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.”
This is the eighth place wherein they had camped, there is another place called Zin, which was the 33rd place wherein they camped: and is also called Kadesh, Num. 33:36 .
“And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
So hard a thing is it to the flesh not to murmur against God when the belly is pinched.
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day , that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. a certain: Heb. the portion of a day in his day”
To signify, that they should patiently depend upon God’s providence from day to day. Hebrew, the portion of a day in his day.
“And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?”
He gave them not Manna because they murmured, but for his promise sake.
“And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.”
He that contemneth God’s ministers, contemneth God himself.
“And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.”
Cross references: : Exod. 13:21
“And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. It is: or, What is this? or, It is a portion”
John 6:30 ; 1 Cor. 10:3 Which signifieth a part, portion, or gift: also meat prepared.
“This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. for every: Heb. by the poll, or, head persons: Heb. souls”
Which containeth about a pottle of our measure. Hebrew, for an head .
“And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.”
2 Cor. 8:15 God is a rich feeder of all, and none can justly complain.
“Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.”
No creature is so pure, but being abused it turneth to our destruction.
“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.”
Which portion should serve for the Sabbath and the day before.
“And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.”
God took away the occasion from their labor, to signify how holy he would have the Sabbath kept.
“And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.”
Their infidelity was so great, that they did expressly against God’s commandment.
“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”
In form and figure, but not in color, Num. 11:7 .
“And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.”
Of this vessel, read Heb. 9:4 .
“As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.”
That is, the Ark of the covenant, to wit, after that the Ark was made.
“Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.”
Which measure contained about ten pottels.