Ver. 1. Unto the wilderness of Sin.] So called because it bordered upon the city of Sin, whereof see Ezekiel 30:15,16 20:35,36. Or, of the many brambles that grew therein.
Ver. 2. And the whole congregation.] The most part of the people. Diaconos paucitas honorabiles fecit, saith Jerome: sic et veros Israelitas.
Ver. 3. To kill this whole assembly.] Thus discontent will say anything: neither careth it how true the charge be, but how stinging and stabbing.
Ver. 4. I will rain bread from heaven.] Not hell from heaven, as once he did upon Sodom. “If thine enemy hunger, feed him,” as God here doth.
Ver. 5. On the sixth dug they shall prepare.] The Jews’ preparation for the Sabbath began at three o’clock in the afternoon. The best and wealthiest of them, even those that had many servants, did with their own hands further the preparation. So that sometimes the masters themselves would chop herbs, sweep the house, cleave wood, kindle the fire, &c. Buxtorf., Synagog.
Ver. 6. That the Lord.] And not we without his authority: so that in murmuring against us, ye have set your mouths against heaven. Caveant μεμψιυοιροι: “Grudge not: behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” (James 5:9)
Ver. 7. Ye shall see the glory of the Lord.] Shining in that wonderful work of his, the bread from heaven. Compare Numbers 14:21 Joh 11:40.
Ver. 8. In the evening flesh to eat, &c.] Never was prince so served in his greatest pomp, as these rebellious Israelites. How good shall we find him then to those that please him!
Ver. 9. For he hath heard your murmurings.] Now then “what will you do, since God riseth up and since he visiteth, what will ye answer?” (Job 31:14)
Ver. 10. Toward the wilderness.] Where the cloud was in the forefront of their armies.
Ver. 11. And the Lord spake,] i.e., He had before spoken.
Ver. 12. And in the morning.] Theyhave their flesh at even, and bread in the morning. God will be waited on, and give the consummation of his blessings at his leisure. The cloud empties not itself at a sudden burst, but dissolves upon the earth drop after drop.
Ver. 13. The dew lay round,] i.e., The manna that came down in the dew; as Christ the bread of life doth in the ministry of the word. See Deuteronomy 32:2. Josephus writeth, that as Moses was lifting up his hands in prayer, there fell upon them a dew from heaven, and crusted. This when he had tasted, it proved very sweet; and the nature of this manna, saith he, was such, that he who had it would desire no other meat.
Ver. 14. The dew that lay.] And covered the manna: whence that promise of hidden manna in Revelation 2:17.
Ver. 15. It is manna,] i.e., What shall I call? Herba Anonymus non inveniendo nomen, invenit, saith Pliny; so manna. Others interpret manna, a portion, an admirable gift, or meat prepared. Lib. xxvi. cap. 14.
Ver. 16. Every man according to his eating.] Thus they were inured in diem vivere, as Quintilian saith the birds do, to depend upon God for their daily bread.
Ver. 17. Some more, some less.] Secundum proportionem arithmeticam, sed non secundum propertionem geometricam. As a man had more or less mouths in his family to feed.
Ver. 18. He that gathered much.] [See Trapp on “2Co 8:15”]
Ver. 19. Let no man leave of it, &c.] It was to be gathered in the morning, and not kept till the morrow. “I made haste and delayed not,” saith David. (Psalms 119:60)
Ver. 20. Left of it until, &c.] Either through distrust or curiosity.
Ver. 21. It melted.] Or, Putrified, faded, dissolved. Some Papists derive their Mass from this root: and well it may; nam per eam omnis pietas linquefacta est et dissoluta, saith Rivet: for it is the utter bane of all good, as being a mass or heap of abominations.
Ver. 22. And told Moses.] As fearing that the people had not done so well, as indeed they did: or, as desirous of further direction.
Ver. 23. Lay up for you, &c.] This is no plea for the Popish keeping of their breaden god in a pyx; for here was a command so to do, lest the Sabbath should be profaned: but for the other there is none.
Ver. 24. Till the morning.] The Sabbath morning, wherein it putrified not, but continued sound and savoury by the special hand of God; that they might keep the Sabbath, as it appears here they did before the law given at Sinai. Papists press the sanctification of the Sabbath as a mere human institution in religious worship. Our anti-Sabbatarians took this text for an anticipation only, and made little account of the fourth commandment, which Spalato had taught them was done away, &c.
Ver. 25. Eat that to day.] So shall those that labour in the Lord rest and feast in heaven. Thus the Rabbis moralise it.
Ver. 26. [See Trapp on “Ex 16:30”]
Ver. 27. And it came to pass.] [See Trapp on “Ex 16:20”] Some unruly beasts, masterless monsters, will be breaking over the hedge: but the law will hamper them.
Ver. 28. How long refuse ye.] The rulers are disgraced for the people’s unruliness. To keep my commandments?] For in breaking that one of the Sabbath they had broken all: the whole law is but one copulative. See James 2:10.
Ver. 29. Hath given you the Sabbath.] And a great gift is was. (Nehemiah 9:14) Were it not for the weekly Sabbath we should all run wild. Abide ye every man in his place.] Sabbath, coming from Shabath, to cease or rest, hath some affinity with Jashabh, to sit still, and with Shabach, to worship and give praise; to show that this rest must be sanctified: for else it is but asinorum sabbatum, as one saith, the Sabbath of the ox and ass; for these also must rest.
Ver. 30. So the people rested.] According to their custom, though probably intermitted for a season in Egypt, during their hard servitude. Sed rationem reddat qui potest, aith a learned doctor; are, ante legem promulgatam, in die septimo cessavit manna, nisi quia, ad exemplum Domini, ab ipsius mundi primordi invaluisset sabbati obserratio. This ceasing of manna on the seventh day shows that the Sabbath was kept from the beginning. Dr Prideaux.
Ver. 31. And the taste of it.] It had not all manner of good tastes, according to every man’s appetite, (Numbers 11:8) else why should the people lust and murmur as there they did? (Exodus 16:4,5)
Ver. 32. Fill an omer.] Monuments and memorials of God’s great mercies are to be set up, lest, as it fares with children, eaten bread be soon forgotten.
Ver. 33. Take a pot.] A golden pot. (Hebrews 9:4) Strabo writeth, that the Metapontini, after a plentiful harvest which had much enriched them, dedicated to Apollo at Delphi χρυσουν θερος, a harvest of gold. Geog.
Ver. 34. To be kept.] For the use of succeeding ages in the most holy places. So Christ, glorified in his humanity, abides for ever. (Hebrews 7:24)
Ver. 35. Until they came.] So, till we come to heaven shall we have need of ordinances.
Ver. 36. Of an ephah.] Or, Of a bushel: a plentiful allowance. [See Trapp on “Joh 2:7”]