Exodus 16

Here we have the third instance of the murmuring of Israel (Exodus 16:1-3), the promise of God to give them bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4-12), God's promise fulfilled (Exodus 16:13-20), the events surrounding the very first mention of "sabbath" in the word of God (Exodus 16:21-30), the manna named and memorialized (Exodus 16:31-36).

This chapter is the nemesis of Biblical critics, as confessed by Harford, "This chapter is a crux for critics ... the dispute turns on the question of whether J or E is present, and how much of either, and if more or less of P!"[1] Harford declined to give any analysis based upon the alleged sources of the Pentateuch. Our own analysis finds Moses in every line of it with perhaps a single addition by the inspired Joshua.

Of course, one of the most important questions arising from this chapter regards the institution of the sabbath. See notes below.