Elberfelder Bible (1905) - with Strong’s numbers (GER)

1Und sie brachen auf vonH3318 ElimH362, und die ganze GemeindeH5712 der KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 kamH935 in die WüsteH4057 SinH5512, die zwischen ElimH362 und SinaiH5514 ist, am fünfzehnten H2568 H6240 H3117 Tage des zweitenH8145 MonatsH2320 nach ihrem Auszuge ausH5265 dem LandeH776 ÄgyptenH4714. 2Und die ganze GemeindeH5712 der KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 murrteH3885 wieder MoseH4872 und wider AaronH175 in der WüsteH4057. 3UndH3318 die KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 sprachenH559 zu ihnen: Wären wir doch im LandeH776 ÄgyptenH4714 durch die HandH3027 JehovasH3068 gestorbenH4191, als wir bei den FleischtöpfenH1320 saßen, als wir BrotH3899 aßenH398 bis zur Sättigung! Denn ihrH3427 habt uns in diese WüsteH4057 herausgeführt, um diese ganze VersammlungH6951 HungersH7458 sterbenH4191 zu lassenH5414. 4Da sprachH559 JehovaH3068 zu MoseH4872 : Siehe, ich werde euch BrotH3899 vom HimmelH8064 regnenH4305 lassen; und dasH1697 VolkH5971 soll hinausgehenH3318 und den täglichen Bedarf an seinem Tage sammelnH3950, damit ich es versucheH5254, ob es wandelnH3212 wird in meinem GesetzH8451 oder nicht. 5Und esH3117 soll geschehen, am sechstenH8345 TageH3117, da sollen sie zubereiten, wasH834 sie einbringenH935, und es wird das Doppelte von dem sein, was sie tagtäglich sammelnH3950 werden. 6Und MoseH4872 und AaronH175 sprachenH559 zu allen KindernH1121 IsraelH3478 : Am AbendH6153, da werdet ihr erkennenH3045, daß JehovaH3068 euch ausH3318 dem LandeH776 ÄgyptenH4714 herausgeführt hat; 7undH3068 am MorgenH1242, da werdetH3885 ihr die HerrlichkeitH3519 Jehovas sehenH7200, indem erH3068 euer MurrenH8519 wider Jehova gehört hatH8085; denn was sind wirH5168, daß ihr wider uns murret! 8Und MoseH4872 sprachH559 : Dadurch werdet ihr' s erkennen, daß JehovaH3068 euch am AbendH6153 FleischH1320 zu essenH398 gebenH5414 wird und am MorgenH1242 BrotH3899 bis zur Sättigung, indem JehovaH3068 euer MurrenH8519 gehört hatH8085, womit ihr wider ihn murret. Denn was sind wirH5168? Nicht wider uns ist euer MurrenH3885, sondern wider JehovaH3068. 9Und MoseH4872 sprachH559 zu AaronH175 : Sprich zu der ganzen GemeindeH5712 der KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 : Nahet herzuH7126 vorH6440 JehovaH3068, denn erH559 hatH8085 euer MurrenH8519 gehört. 10Und es geschah, als AaronH175 zu der ganzen GemeindeH5712 der KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 redeteH1696, da wandten sie sichH6437 gegen die WüsteH4057; und siehe, die HerrlichkeitH3519 JehovasH3068 erschienH7200 in der WolkeH6051. 11Und JehovaH3068 redeteH1696 zu MoseH4872 und sprachH559 : 12Ich habeH1696 das MurrenH8519 der KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 gehörtH8085; rede zu ihnen und sprichH559 : Zwischen den zwei Abenden werdet ihr FleischH1320 essenH398, und am MorgenH1242 werdet ihr von BrotH3899 satt werdenH7646; und ihr werdet erkennenH3045, daß ich JehovaH3068 bin, euer GottH430. 13Und es geschah am AbendH6153, da kamen WachtelnH7958 heraufH5927 und bedecktenH3680 das LagerH4264; und am MorgenH1242 war eine Tauschicht rings umH5439 das LagerH4264. 14Und die Tauschicht stieg aufH5927, und siehe, da lagH7902 ' s aufH6440 der Fläche der WüsteH4057 fein, körnig, fein, wie der ReifH3713 auf der ErdeH776. 15Und die KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 sahenH7200 es und sprachenH559 einerH376 zum anderen: Was ist das? Denn sie wußtenH3045 nicht, was es war. Und MoseH4872 sprachH559 zu ihnen: Dies ist das BrotH3899, das JehovaH3068 euch zur NahrungH402 gegebenH5414 hat. 16Dies istH3947 das WortH1697, das JehovaH3068 geboten hatH6680 : Sammelt davon, einH376 jeder nachH6310 dem Maße seines Essens; einen Ghomer für denH834 Kopf, nach der ZahlH4557 eurer SeelenH5315, sollt ihr nehmen, einH376 jeder für die, welche in seinem Zelte sind. 17Und die KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 tatenH6213 also und sammeltenH3950, der vielH7235 und der wenigH4591. 18Und sie maßen mit dem Ghomer: da hatte, werH376 vielH7235 gesammeltH3950 hatte, nicht übrig, und wer wenigH4591 gesammelt hatte, dem mangelte nicht; sie hatten gesammelt, ein jeder nachH6310 dem Maße seines Essens. 19Und MoseH4872 sprachH559 zu ihnen: NiemandH376 lasseH3498 davon übrig bis an den MorgenH1242. 20Aber sie hörtenH8085 nicht aufH7311 MoseH4872, und etlicheH582 ließenH3498 davon übrig bis an den MorgenH1242; da wuchsen WürmerH8438 darin, und es ward stinkendH887. Und MoseH4872 wurde zornigH7107 über sie. 21Und sie sammeltenH3950 esH4549 MorgenH1242 für Morgen, einH376 jeder nachH6310 dem Maße seines Essens; und wenn die SonneH8121 heiß wurde, so zerschmolz es. 22Und es geschah am sechstenH8345 TageH3117, da sammeltenH3950 sie das Doppelte anH5046 BrotH3899, zweiH8147 Ghomer für einenH259; und alle FürstenH5387 der GemeindeH5712 kamenH935 und berichteten es MoseH4872. 23UndH7676 er sprachH559 zu ihnen: Dies istH5736 es, was JehovaH3068 geredet hatH1696 : MorgenH4279 ist RuheH7677, ein heiliger Sabbath dem JehovaH3068; was ihrH3240 backen wolltH644, backet, und was ihr kochenH1310 wolltH644, kochetH1310. AllesH3605 aber, was übrigbleibt, leget euch hin zur Aufbewahrung bis an den MorgenH1242. 24UndH3240 sie legten es hin bis an den MorgenH1242, so wie MoseH4872 geboten hatteH6680; und es stankH887 nicht, und es war kein WurmH7415 darin. 25Da sprachH559 MoseH4872 : EssetH398 es heuteH3117, denn heuteH3117 ist Sabbath dem JehovaH3068; ihr werdet es heuteH3117 auf dem FeldeH7704 nicht findenH4672. 26SechsH8337 TageH3117 sollt ihr es sammelnH3950; aber am siebten TageH3117 ist Sabbath, an dem wird es nicht sein. 27Und es geschah am siebten TageH3117, daß etliche vonH3318 dem VolkeH5971 hinausgingen, um zu sammelnH3950, und sie fandenH4672 nichts. 28Und JehovaH3068 sprachH559 zu MoseH4872 : Bis wann weigert ihrH8104 euchH3985, meine GeboteH4687 und meine GesetzeH8451 zu beobachten? 29SehetH7200, weil JehovaH3068 euch den Sabbath gegebenH5414 hat, darum gibtH5414 er euch am sechstenH8345 TageH3117 BrotH3899 für zwei TageH3117; bleibetH3427 einH376 jeder an seiner Stelle, niemandH376 gehe am siebten TageH3117 vonH3318 seinem OrteH4725 heraus. 30Und das VolkH5971 ruhteH7673 am siebten TageH3117. 31Und das HausH1004 IsraelH3478 gabH7121 ihm den NamenH8034 ManH4478; und es war wie KoriandersamenH1407, weißH3836, und sein GeschmackH2940 wie Kuchen mit HonigH1706. 32Und MoseH4872 sprachH559 : Dies ist das WortH1697, das JehovaH3068 geboten hat: Ein Ghomer vollH4393 davon sei zur Aufbewahrung für eure GeschlechterH1755, damit sieH6680 das BrotH3899 sehenH7200, womit ich euch in der WüsteH4057 gespeist habeH398, als ich euch ausH3318 dem LandeH776 ÄgyptenH4714 herausführte. 33UndH3240 MoseH4872 sprachH559 zu AaronH175 : NimmH3947 einenH259 Krug und tue ManH4478 darein, einen Ghomer vollH4393, und legeH5414 es vorH6440 JehovaH3068 nieder zur Aufbewahrung für eure GeschlechterH1755. 34So wie JehovaH3068 MoseH4872 geboten hatteH6680, legteH3240 AaronH175 es vorH6440 das ZeugnisH5715 nieder, zur Aufbewahrung. - 35Und die KinderH1121 IsraelH3478 aßenH398 das ManH4478 vierzigH705 JahreH8141, bis sieH3427 in ein bewohntes LandH776 kamenH935; sie aßenH398 das ManH4478, bis sie an die GrenzeH7097 des LandesH776 KanaanH3667 kamenH935. 36Der Ghomer aber ist ein ZehntelH6224 vom EphaH374.


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   The host of Israel, it seems, took along with them out of Egypt, when they came thence on the fifteenth day of the first month, a month's provisions, which, by the fifteenth day of the second month, was all spent; and here we have,
I. Their discontent and murmuring upon that occasion, Exod 16:2, Exod 16:3. The whole congregation, the greatest part of them, joined in this mutiny; it was not immediately against God that they murmured, but (which was equivalent) against Moses and Aaron, God's viceregents among them. 1. They count upon being killed in the wilderness - nothing less, at the first appearance of disaster. If the Lord had been pleased to kill them, he could easily have done that in the Red Sea; but then he preserved them, and now could as easily provide for them. It argues great distrust of God, and of his power and goodness, in every distress and appearance of danger to despair of life, and to talk of nothing but being speedily killed. 2. They invidiously charge Moses with a design to starve them when he brought them out of Egypt; whereas what he had done was both by order from God and with a design to promote their welfare. Note, It is no new thing for the greatest kindnesses to be misinterpreted and basely represented as the greatest injuries. The worst colours are sometimes put upon the best actions. Nay, 3. They so far undervalue their deliverance that they wish they had died in Egypt, nay, and died by the hand of the Lord too, that is, by some of the plagues which cut off the Egyptians, as if it were not the hand of the Lord, but of Moses only, that brought them into this hungry wilderness. It is common for people to say of that pain, or sickness, or sore, of which they see not the second causes, It is what pleases God, as if that were not so likewise which comes by the hand of man, or some visible accident. Prodigious madness! They would rather die by the fleshpots of Egypt, where they found themselves with provision, than live under the guidance of the heavenly pillar in a wilderness and be provided for by the hand of God! they pronounce it better to have fallen in the destruction of God's enemies than to bear the fatherly discipline of his children! We cannot suppose that they had any great plenty in Egypt, how largely soever they now talk of the flesh-pots; nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness, while they had their flocks and herds with them. But discontent magnifies what is past, and vilifies what is present, without regard to truth or reason. None talk more absurdly than murmurers. Their impatience, ingratitude, and distrust of God, were so much the worse in that they had lately received such miraculous favours, and convincing proofs both that God could help them in the greatest exigencies and that really he had mercy in store for them. See how soon they forgot his works, and provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea, Pss 106:7-Pss 106:13. Note, Experiences of God's mercies greatly aggravate our distrusts and murmurings.
II. The care God graciously took for their supply. Justly he might have said, I will rain fire and brimstone upon these murmurers, and consume them; but, quite contrary, he promises to rain bread upon them. Observe,
1. How God makes known to Moses his kind intentions, that he might not be uneasy at their murmurings, nor be tempted to wish he had let them alone in Egypt. (1.) He takes notice of the people's complaints: I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, Exod 16:12. As a God of pity, he took cognizance of their necessity, which was the occasion of their murmuring; as a just and holy God, he took cognizance of their base and unworthy reflections upon his servant Moses, and was much displeased with them. Note, When we begin to fret and be uneasy, we ought to consider that God hears all our murmurings, though silent, and only the murmurings of the heart. Princes, parents, masters, do not hear all the murmurs of their inferiors against them, and it is well they do not, for perhaps they could not bear it; but God hears, and yet bears. We must not think, because God does not immediately take vengeance on men for their sins, that therefore he does not take notice of them; no, he hears the murmurings of Israel, and is grieved with this generation, and yet continues his care of them, as the tender parent of the froward child. (2.) He promises them a speedy, sufficient, and constant supply, Exod 16:4. Man being made out of the earth, his Maker has wisely ordered him food out of the earth, Pss 104:14. But the people of Israel, typifying the church of the first-born that are written in heaven, and born from above, and being themselves immediately under the direction and government of heaven, receiving their charters, laws, and commissions, from heaven, from heaven also received their food: their law being given by the disposition of angels, they did also eat angels' food. See what God designed in making this provision for them: That I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no. [1.] Thus he tried whether they would trust him, and walk in the law of faith or no, whether they could live from hand to mouth, and (though now uneasy because their provisions were spent) could rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day, and depend upon God for fresh supplies tomorrow. [2.] Thus he tried whether they would serve him, and be always faithful to so good a Master, that provided so well for his servants; and hereby he made it appear to all the world, in the issue, what an ungrateful people they were, whom nothing could affect with a sense of obligation. Let favour be shown to them, yet will they not learn righteousness, Isa 26:10.
2. How Moses made known these intentions to Israel, as God ordered him. Here Aaron was his prophet, as he had been to Pharaoh. Moses directed Aaron what to speak to the congregation of Israel (Exod 16:9); and some think that, while Aaron was giving a public summons to the congregation to come near before the Lord, Moses retired to pray, and that the appearance of the glory of the Lord (Exod 16:10) was in answer to his prayer. They are called to come near, as Isa 1:18, Come, and let us reason together. Note, God condescends to give even murmurers a fair hearing; and shall we then despise the cause of our inferiors when they contend with us? Job 31:13. (1.) He convinces them of the evil of their murmurings. They thought they reflected only upon Moses and Aaron, but here they are told that God was struck at through their sides. This is much insisted on (Exod 16:7, Exod 16:8): Your murmurings are not against us, then we would have been silent, but against the Lord; it was he that led you into these straits, and not we. Note, When we murmur against those who are instruments of any uneasiness to us, whether justly or unjustly, we should do well to consider how much we reflect upon God by it; men are but God's hand. Those that quarrel with the reproofs and convictions of the word, and are angry with their ministers when they are touched in a tender part, know not what they do, for therein they strive with their Maker. Let this for ever stop the mouth of murmuring, that it is daring impiety to murmur at God, because he is God; and gross absurdity to murmur at men, because they are but men. (2.) He assures them of the supply of their wants, that since they had harped upon the flesh-pots so much they should for once have flesh in abundance that evening, and bread the next morning, and so on every day thenceforward, Exod 16:8, Exod 16:12. Many there are of whom we say that they are better fed than taught; but the Israelites were thus fed, that they might be taught. He led him about, he instructed him (Deut 32:10); and, as to this instance, see Deut 8:3, He fed thee with manna, that thou mightest know that man doth not live by bread only. And, besides this, here are two things mentioned, which he intended to teach them by sending them manna: - [1.] By this you shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt, Exod 16:6. That they were brought out of Egypt was plain enough; but so strangely sottish and short-sighted were they that they said it was Moses that brought them out, Exod 16:3. Now God sent them manna, to prove that it was no less than infinite power and goodness that brought them out, and this could perfect what was begun. If Moses only had brought them out of Egypt, he could not thus have fed them; they must therefore own that that was the Lord's doing, because this was so, and both were marvellous in their eyes; yet, long afterwards, they needed to be told that Moses gave them not this bread from heaven, John 6:32. [2.] By this you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Exod 16:12. This gave proof of his power as the Lord, and his particular favour to them as their God. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know that he was the Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know that he was their God.
3. How God himself manifested his glory, to still the murmurings of the people, and to put a reputation upon Moses and Aaron, Exod 16:10. While Aaron was speaking, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The cloud itself, one would think, was enough both to strike an awe upon them and to give encouragement to them; yet, in a few days, it had grown so familiar to them that it made no impression upon them, unless it shone with an unusual brightness. Note, What God's ministers say to us is then likely to do us good when the glory of God shines in with it upon our souls.

 13   Now they begin to be provided for by the immediate hand of God.
I. He makes them a feast, at night, of delicate fowl, feathered fowl (Pss 78:27), therefore not locusts, as some think; quails, or pheasants, or some wild fowl, came up, and covered the camp, so tame that they might take up as many of them as they pleased. Note, God gives us of the good things of this life, not only for necessity, but for delight, that we may not only serve him, but serve him cheerfully.
II. Next morning he rained manna upon them, which was to be continued to them for their daily bread. 1. That which was provided for them was manna, which descended from the clouds, so that, in some sense, they might be said to live upon the air. It came down in dew that melted, and yet was itself of such a consistency as to serve for nourishing strengthening food, without any thing else. They called it manna, manhu, What is this? Either, What a poor thing this is! despising it: or, What a strange thing this is! admiring it: or, It is a portion, no matter what it is; it is that which our God has allotted us, and we will take it and be thankful, Exod 16:14, Exod 16:15. It was pleasant food; the Jews say that it was palatable to all, however varied their tastes. It was wholesome food, light of digestion, and very necessary (Dr. Grew says) to cleanse them from disorders with which he thinks it probable that they were, in the time of their bondage, more or less infected, which disorders a luxurious diet would have made contagious. By this spare and plain diet we are all taught a lesson of temperance, and forbidden to desire dainties and varieties. 2. They were to gather it every morning (Exod 16:21), the portion of a day in his day, Exod 16:4. Thus they must live upon daily providence, as the fowls of the air, of which it is said, That which thou givest them they gather (Pss 104:28); not today for tomorrow: let the morrow take thought for the things of itself. To this daily raining and gathering of manna our Saviour seems to allude when he teaches us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread. We are hereby taught, (1.) Prudence and diligence in providing food convenient for ourselves and our household. What God graciously gives we must industriously gather; with quietness working, and eating our own bread, not the bread either 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.) Contentment and satisfaction with a sufficiency. They must gather, every man according to his eating; enough is as good as a feast, and more than enough is as bad as a surfeit. Those that have most have, for themselves, but food, and raiment, and mirth; and 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 so great a disproportion between one and another in the comforts and enjoyments of the things of this life as there is in the property and possession of the things themselves. (3.) Dependence upon Providence: Let no man leave till morning (Exod 16:19), but let them learn to go to bed and sleep quietly, though they have not a bit of bread in their tent, nor in all their camp, trusting that God, with the following day, will bring them their daily bread. It was surer and safer in God's store-house than in their own, and would thence come to them sweeter and fresher. Read with this, Matt 6:25, Take no thought for your life, etc. See here the folly of hoarding. The manna that was laid up by some (who thought themselves wiser and better managers than their neighbours, and who would provide in case it should fail next day), putrefied, and bred worms, and became good for nothing. Note, That proves to be most wasted which is covetously and distrustfully spared. Those riches are corrupted, James 5:2, James 5:3. Let us set ourselves to think, [1.] Of that great power of God which fed Israel in the wilderness, and made miracles their daily bread. What cannot this God do, who prepared a table in the wilderness, and furnished it richly even for those who questioned whether he could or no? Pss 78:19, Pss 78:20. Never was there such a market of provisions as this, where so many hundred thousand men were daily furnished, without money and without price. Never was there such an open house kept as God kept in the wilderness for forty years together, nor such free and plentiful entertainment given. The feast which Ahasuerus made, to show the riches of his kingdom, and the honour of his majesty, was nothing to this, Esth 1:4. It is said (Exod 16:21), When the sun waxed hot, it melted; as if what was left were drawn up by the heat of the sun into the air to be the seed of the next day's harvest, and so from day to day. [2.] Of that constant providence of God which gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures for ever, Pss 136:25. He is a great house-keeper that provides for all the creatures. The same wisdom, power, and goodness that now brought food daily out of the clouds, are employed in the constant course of nature, bringing food yearly out of the earth, and giving us all things richly to enjoy.

 22   We have here, 1. A plain intimation of the observing of a seventh day sabbath, not only before the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, and therefore, from the beginning, Gen 2:3. If the sabbath had now been first instituted, how could Moses have understood what God said to him (Exod 16:5), concerning a double portion to be gathered on the sixth day, without making any express mention of the sabbath? And how could the people so readily take the hint (Exod 16:22), even to the surprise of the rulers, before Moses had declared that it was done with a regard to the sabbath, if they had not had some knowledge of the sabbath before? The setting apart of one day in seven for holy work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was a divine appointment ever since God created man upon the earth, and the most ancient of positive laws. The way of sabbath-sanctification is the good old way. 2. The double provision which God made for the Israelites, and which they were to make for themselves, on the sixth day: God gave them on the sixth day the bread of two days, Exod 16:29. 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 prepare it, Exod 16:23. The law was very strict, that they must bake and seeth, the day before, and not on the sabbath day. This does not now make it unlawful for us to dress meat on the Lord's day, but directs us to contrive our family affairs so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity, no doubt, are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do of things necessary to the life that now is, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to the one thing needful. That which they kept of for their food on the sabbath day did not putrefy, Exod 16:24. When they kept it in opposition to a command (Exod 16:20) it stank; when they kept it in obedience to a command it was sweet and good; for every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 3. The intermission of the manna on the seventh day. God did not send it then, and therefore they must not expect it, nor go out to gather, Exod 16:25, Exod 16:26. This showed that it was not produced by natural causes, and that it was designed for a confirmation of the divine authority of the law which was to be given by Moses. Thus God took an effectual course to make them remember the sabbath day; they could not forget it, nor the day of preparation for it. Some, it seems, went out on the seventh day, expecting to find manna (Exod 16:27); but they found none, for those that will find must seek in the appointed time: seek the Lord while he may be found. God, upon this occasion, said to Moses, How long refuse you to keep my commandments? Exod 16:28. Why did he say this to Moses? He was not disobedient. No, but he was the ruler of a disobedient people, and God charges it upon him that he might the more warmly charge it upon them, and might take care that their disobedience should not be through any neglect or default of his. It was for going out to seek for manna on he seventh day that they were thus reproved. Note, (1.) Disobedience, even in a small matter, is very provoking. (2.) God is jealous for the honour of his sabbaths. If walking out on the sabbath to seek for food was thus reproved, walking out on that day purely to find our own pleasure cannot be justified.

 32   God having provided manna to be his people's food in the wilderness, and to be to them a continual feast, we are here told, 1. How the memory of it was preserved. An omer of this manna was laid up in a golden pot, as we are told (Hebre 9:4), and kept before the testimony, or the ark, when it was afterwards made, Exod 16:32-Exod 16:34. The preservation of this manna from waste and corruption was a standing miracle, and therefore the more proper memorial of this miraculous food. Posterity shall see the bread, says God, wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, see what sort of food it was, and how much each man's daily proportion of it was, that it may appear they were neither kept to hard fare nor to short allowance, and then judge between God and Israel, whether they had any cause given them to murmur and find fault with their provisions, and whether they and their seed after them had not a great deal of reason gratefully to won God's goodness to them. Note, Eaten bread must not be forgotten. God's miracles and mercies are to be had in everlasting remembrance, for our encouragement to trust in him at all times. 2. How the mercy of it was continued as long as they had occasion for it. The manna never ceased till they came to the borders of Canaan, where there was bread enough and to spare, Exod 16:35. See how constant the care of Providence is; seedtime and harvest fail not, while the earth remains. Israel was very provoking in the wilderness, yet the manna never failed them: thus still God causes his rain to fall on the just and unjust. The manna is called spiritual meat (1Cor 10:3), because it was typical of spiritual blessings in heavenly things. Christ himself is the true manna, the bread of life, of which this was a figure, John 6:49-John 6:51. The word of God is the manna by which our souls are nourished, Matt 4:4. The comforts of the Spirit are hidden manna, Revel 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. It is food for Israelites, for those only that follow the pillar of cloud and fire. It is to be gathered; 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 opportunities, which if we let slip, it may be too late to gather. The manna they gathered must not be hoarded up, but eaten; those that 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 a complete sufficiency, and no superfluity. But those that did eat manna hungered again, died at last, and with many of them God was not well-pleased; whereas those that feed on Christ by faith shall never hunger, and shall die no more, and with them God will be for ever well pleased. The Lord evermore give us this bread!