Exodus 16:1-5,Exodus 16:11-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 16:1-12

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, 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:1

And they took their journey from Elim ,.... And came again to the Red sea, as appears from Numbers 33:10 perhaps to some bay or creek of it, which ran up from it, and lay in their way, and where for a short time they encamped to look at it, and recollect what had been done for them in bringing them through it; but as their stay here was short, and nothing of any importance or consequence happened, it is here omitted, and their next station is only observed: and all the congregation of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:2

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured ,.... For want of bread; for the Targum of Jonathan says, that day the dough ceased they brought of Egypt, on which, and the unleavened cakes they had lived thirty days; and for a longer space of time it was not sufficient, as Josephus F7 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 15. sect. 1. and other Jewish writers F8 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 5. p. 17. observe; and now it was all spent, and they were in the utmost distress for bread, and fall a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:3

And the children of Israel said unto them ,.... They not only inwardly murmured, and privately complained among themselves, but they spoke out their complaints, and that in a very extravagant manner: would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt ; by one of the plagues, or some such like plague as were inflicted on the Egyptians, which killed many of them, and particularly the hailstorm and plague on the firstborn; suggesting that death, even by the hand of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:4

Then said the Lord unto Moses ,.... Who no doubt had been praying to him, as was his usual manner, when the people were in distress and complained, and was heard and answered by him: behold: I will rain bread from heaven for you ; though they were a murmuring, rebellious, and ungrateful people, the Lord dealt kindly and bountifully with them; he did not rain fire and brimstone upon them, as on Sodom and Gomorrah, nor snares and an horrible tempest, as on the wicked; but what was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:5

And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day ,.... Of the week, and from the raining of the bread, which was on the first day of the week: they shall prepare that which they bring in ; the Targum of Jonathan adds, to eat on the sabbath day; what they did not consume on the sixth day was to be prepared and reserved for the seventh day; that is, it was to be baked or boiled as they thought fit to have it, or eat it as it was, which they pleased, see Exodus 16:23 only one part of it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:1

The wilderness of Sin - This desert lies between Elim and Sinai, and from Elim, Dr. Shaw says, Mount Sinai can be seen distinctly. Mr. Ainsworth supposes that this wilderness had its name from a strong city of Egypt called Sin, near which it lay. See Ezekiel 30:15 , Ezekiel 30:16 . Before they came to the wilderness of Sin, they had a previous encampment by the Red Sea after they left Elim, of which Moses makes distinct mention Numbers 33:10 , Numbers 33:11 . The fifteenth day of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:2

The whole congregation - murmured - This is an additional proof of the degraded state of the minds of this people; See Clarke's note on Exodus 13:17 . And this very circumstance affords a convincing argument that a people so stupidly carnal could not have been induced to leave Egypt had they not been persuaded so to do by the most evident and striking miracles. Human nature can never be reduced to a more abject state in this world than that in which the body is enthralled by political... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:3

The flesh pots - As the Hebrews were in a state of slavery in Egypt, they were doubtless fed in various companies by their task masters in particular places, where large pots or boilers were fixed for the purpose of cooking their victuals. To these there may be a reference in this place, and the whole speech only goes to prove that they preferred their bondage in Egypt to their present state in the wilderness; for they could not have been in a state of absolute want, as they had brought an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:4

I will rain bread - Therefore this substance was not a production of the desert: nor was the dew that was the instrument of producing it common there, else they must have had this bread for a month before. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 16:1-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:4

Group of Brands