Exodus-Chap-16-1-18

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Exodus 16:1-18”

Part One..

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Exodus 16:1-18 marks a pivotal transition for us the Children of Israel. Having celebrated their physical liberation at the Sea of Reeds, the congregation now enters the harsh reality of the Wilderness of Sin. This passage shifts the focus from external liberation to internal discipline and trust. It introduces the foundational challenge of the desert: how a people accustomed to the structured albeit cruel rations of servitude must now learn to depend on a Divine provider while adhering to specific instructions regarding their daily sustenance.

YYYYYYY

Let us read Exodus Chapter 16: 1-18: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

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. 2. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; 3. and the children of Israel said unto them: ‘Would that we had died by the hand of יְהוָה - the LORD in the land of Egypt, 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 יְהוָה - the LORD unto Moses: ‘Behold, I will cause to 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. And it shall come to pass on the sixth day that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily’. 6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: ‘At even, then ye shall know that יְהוָה - the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt; 7. and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of יְהוָה - the LORD; for that He hath heard your murmurings against יְהוָה - the LORD; and what are we, that ye murmur against us?’ 8. And Moses said: ‘This shall be, when יְהוָה - the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that יְהוָה - the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him; and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against יְהוָה - the LORD’. 9. And Moses said unto Aaron: ‘Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel: Come near before יְהוָה - the LORD; for He hath heard your murmurings’. 10. And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke 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. 11. And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 12. ‘I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak unto them, saying: At dusk ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheichem’. 13. And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew round about the camp. 14. And when the layer of dew was gone up, behold upon the face of the wilderness a fine, scale-like thing, fine as the hoar-frost on the ground. 15. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: ‘What is it?’ for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them: ‘It is the bread which יְהוָה - the LORD hath given you to eat. 16. This is the thing which יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded: Gather ye of it every man according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, shall ye take it, every man for them that are in his tent’. 17. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less. 18. 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. 19. And Moses said unto them: ‘Let no man leave of it till the morning’”.

YYYYYYY

Let us now look at all verses covered with Explanations:

Explanation Verses 1-3: The journey continues from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin. Depleted of their initial provisions, the congregation rebels against Moses and Aaron. Their hunger triggers a distorted nostalgia for Egypt, where they remember “flesh-pots” and “bread to the full”, viewing their current freedom as a death sentence by starvation.

Explanation Verses 4-5: The Divine response is the promise of “bread from heaven”. This is not merely a gift but a “test” to see if the people will walk according to Law. The specific instruction to gather a day’s portion each day and a double portion on the sixth day establishes the concept of daily reliance.

Explanation Verses 6-10: Moses and Aaron inform the people that the evening and morning will provide undeniable proof of the Source of their rescue. The “glory of יְהוָה - the LORD” appears in the cloud, validating the leaders and addressing the people's murmurings.

Explanation Verses 11-12: The promise is codified: “At dusk ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread”. This ensures that the physical need is met, leading to the recognition of the Divine Relationship.

Explanation Verses 13-15: The promise is fulfilled. Quails cover the camp at evening, and in the morning, a “fine, scale-like thing” remains after the dew falls. Unfamiliar with it, the people ask “Man hu?” (What is it?), and Moses identifies it as the bread given for food.

Explanation Verses 16-18: Specific regulations are set: every man is to gather according to his “eating”, defined as an omer per person. This section concludes with a miracle of equity: whether one gathered much or little, when measured, everyone had exactly what they needed an omer for each soul.

YYYYYYY

My Closing Message:
This text teaches us that true freedom requires a shift in perspective regarding “abundance”. In the wilderness, the miracle was not just the arrival of the manna, but the lesson of the omer: that sufficiency is found in gathering exactly what is needed for the day. By providing daily bread rather than a permanent storehouse, the text emphasizes a life of constant, mindful connection to the Provider, ensuring that physical satiation leads to spiritual discipline rather than self-sufficiency.

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hostsMal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

Enter ... 

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

 

Enter ... 

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

 

 

 

 

-hebraicstudies.net-

 

 

 

Email the Rabbi

 

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

 

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

 

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...

Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.