‏ Exodus 16:15-22

It is manna or, What is this, or, It is a portion, Exod 16:31, Exod 16:33; Deut 8:3, Deut 8:16; Josh 5:12; Neh 9:15, Neh 9:20; John 6:31-32, John 6:49, John 6:58; 1Cor 10:3; Heb 9:4; Rev 2:17

This is Exod 16:4; Num 21:5; Prov 9:5; Luke 12:30

omer Exod 16:18, Exod 16:33, Exod 16:36

for every man Heb. by the poll, or head

persons Heb. souls.

2Cor 8:14-15

Exod 12:10, Exod 23:18; Matt 6:34

bred worms Matt 6:19; Luke 12:15, Luke 12:33; Heb 13:5; Jas 5:2-3

and Moses Num 12:3, Num 16:15; Mark 3:5, Mark 10:14; Eph 4:26

Prov 6:6-11; Eccl 9:10, Eccl 12:1; Matt 6:33; John 12:35; 2Cor 6:2

What the substance called manna was, is utterly unknown, but, from the circumstances in the text, it is evident that it was not a natural production, but was miraculously sent by Jehovah. These the learned Abarbinel, a most judicious Jewish interpreter, has thus enumerated:

- The natural manna was never found in the desert where this fell where the common manna does fall;

- It is only in the spring time, in March and April, whereas this fell throughout all the months in the year;

- The ordinary manna does not melt in the sun, as this did (Exod 16:21);

- It does not stink and breed worms, as this did, when kept till the morning (Exod 16:20);

- It cannot be ground or beaten in a mortar, so as to make cakes, as this was;

- The common manna is medicinal and purgative, and cannot be used for food and nutriment, as this was;

- This fell in a double proportion on the sixth day, and not on the sabbath, as it certainly would have done had it fallen naturally;

- It followed them in all their journeys, where ever they pitched their tents; and

- It ceased at the very time of the year when the other falls, namely, in March, when the Israelites were come to Gilgal.

Whatever this substance was, it does not appear to have been common to the wilderness. From Deut 8:3, Deut 8:16, it is evident that the Israelites never saw it before; and from a pot of it being preserved, it is certain that nothing of the kind ever appeared again.

Exod 16:5, Exod 16:16; Lev 25:12, Lev 25:22
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