Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Genesis Leviticus
Exodus 16
Concise Complete
The Israelites come to the wilderness of Sin. They
murmur for food, God promises bread from heaven. (1-12) God sends quails and
manna. (13-21) Particulars respecting the manna. (22-31) An omer of manna to be
preserved. (32-36)
Verses 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 know he was their Lord; when he provided for the
Israelites, it was to make them know he was their God.
Verses 13-21 At
evening the quails came up, and the people caught with ease as many as they
needed. The manna came down in dew. They called it "Manna, Manhu," which means, "What is this?" "It is a portion; it is that which our God has allotted us, and
we will take it, and be thankful." It was pleasant food; it was wholesome food.
The manna was rained from heaven; it appeared, when the dew was gone, as a small
round thing, as small as the hoar frost, like coriander seed, in colour like
pearls. The manna fell only six days in the week, and in double quantity on the
sixth day; it bred worms and became offensive if kept more than one day,
excepting on the sabbath. The people had never seen it before. It could be
ground in a mill, or beaten in a mortar, and was then made into cakes and baked.
It continued the forty years the Israelites were in the wilderness, wherever
they went, and ceased when they arrived in Canaan. All this shows how different
it was from any thing found before, or found now. They were to gather the manna
every morning. We are hereby taught, 1. To be prudent and diligent in providing
food for ourselves and our households; with quietness working, and eating our
own bread, not the bread of idleness or deceit. God's bounty leaves room for
man's duty; it did so even when manna was rained; they must not eat till they
have gathered. 2. To be content with enough. Those that have most, have for
themselves but food and raiment; those that have least, generally have these; so
that he who gathers much has nothing over, and he who gathers little has no
lack. There is not such a disproportion between one and another in the enjoyment
of the things of this life, as in the mere possession of them. 3. To depend upon
Providence: let them sleep quietly, though they have no bread in their tents,
nor in all their camp, trusting that God, with the following day, would bring
them in their daily bread. It was surer and safer in God's storehouse than their
own, and would come thence sweeter and fresher. See here the folly of hoarding.
The manna laid up by some, who thought themselves wiser, and better managers,
than their neighbours, and who would provide lest it should fail next day, bred
worms, and became good for nothing. That will prove to be most wasted, which is
covetously and distrustfully spared. Such riches are corrupted,
james 5:2,3. The same
wisdom, power, and goodness that brought food daily from above for the
Israelites in the wilderness, brings food yearly out of the earth in the
constant course of nature, and gives us all things richly to enjoy.
Verses 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 to come. When they kept manna
against a command, it stank; when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and
good; every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the seventh
day God did not send the manna, therefore they must not expect it, nor go out to
gather. This showed that it was produced by miracle.
Verses 32-36 God
having provided manna to be his people's food in the wilderness, the remembrance
of it was to be preserved. Eaten bread must not be forgotten. God's miracles and
mercies are to be had in remembrance. The word of God is the manna by which our
souls are nourished,
matthew 4:4. The comforts
of the Spirit are hidden manna,
revelation 2:17.
These come from heaven, as the manna did, and are the support and comfort of the
Divine life in the soul, while we are in the wilderness of this world. Christ in
the word is to be applied to the soul, and the means of grace are to be used. We
must every one of us gather for ourselves, and gather in the morning of our
days, the morning of our opportunities; which if we let slip, it may be too late
to gather. The manna must not be hoarded up, but eaten; those who have received
Christ, must by faith live upon him, and not receive his grace in vain. There
was manna enough for all, enough for each, and none had too much; so in Christ
there is enough, but not more than we need. But those who ate manna, hungered
again, died at last, and with many of them God was not well pleased; whereas
they that feed on Christ by faith, shall never hunger, and shall die no more,
and with them God will be for ever well pleased. Let us seek earnestly for the
grace of the Holy Spirit, to turn all our knowledge of the doctrine of Christ
crucified, into the spiritual nourishment of our souls by faith and love.
Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Genesis Leviticus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
