Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Exodus Ch.16 / 40 Ch.s
EX:16
* The Israelites come to the wilderness of Sin. They murmur for
food, God promises bread from heaven. (1-12) God sends quails
and manna. (13-21) Particulars respecting the manna. (22-31) An
omer of manna to be preserved. (32-36)
#1-12 The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent
by the middle of the second month, and they murmured. It is no
new thing for the greatest kindness to be basely represented as
the greatest injuries. They so far undervalue their deliverance,
that they wished they had died in Egypt; and by the hand of the
Lord, that is, by the plagues which cut off the Egyptians. We
cannot suppose they had plenty in Egypt, nor could they fear
dying for want in the wilderness, while they had flocks and
herds: none talk more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to
fret, we ought to consider, that God hears all our murmurings.
God promises a speedy and constant supply. He tried whether they
would trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in
its day. Thus he tried if they would serve him, and it appeared
how ungrateful they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was
to make them know he was their Lord; when he provided for the
Israelites, it was to make them know he was their God.
#13-21 At evening the quails came up, and the people caught with
ease as many as they needed. The manna came down in dew. They
called it "Manna, Manhu," which means, "What is this?" "It is a
portion; it is that which our God has allotted us, and we will
take it, and be thankful." It was pleasant food; it was
wholesome food. The manna was rained from heaven; it appeared,
when the dew was gone, as a small round thing, as small as the
hoar frost, like coriander seed, in colour like pearls. The
manna fell only six days in the week, and in double quantity on
the sixth day; it bred worms and became offensive if kept more
than one day, excepting on the sabbath. The people had never
seen it before. It could be ground in a mill, or beaten in a
mortar, and was then made into cakes and baked. It continued the
forty years the Israelites were in the wilderness, wherever they
went, and ceased when they arrived in Canaan. All this shows how
different it was from any thing found before, or found now. They
were to gather the manna every morning. We are hereby taught, 1.
To be prudent and diligent in providing food for ourselves and
our households; with quietness working, and eating our own
bread, not the bread 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. To be content with
enough. Those that have most, have for themselves but food and
raiment; 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 such a disproportion between one and
another in the enjoyment of the things of this life, as in the
mere possession of them. 3. To depend upon Providence: let them
sleep quietly, though they have no bread in their tents, nor in
all their camp, trusting that God, with the following day, would
bring them in their daily bread. It was surer and safer in God's
storehouse than their own, and would come thence sweeter and
fresher. See here the folly of hoarding. The manna laid up by
some, who thought themselves wiser, and better managers, than
their neighbours, and who would provide lest it should fail next
day, bred worms, and became good for nothing. That will prove to
be most wasted, which is covetously and distrustfully spared.
Such riches are corrupted, #Jas 5:2,3|. The same wisdom, power,
and goodness that brought food daily from above for the
Israelites in the wilderness, brings food yearly out of the
earth in the constant course of nature, and gives us all things
richly to enjoy.
#22-31 Here is mention of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known,
not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but
before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the
beginning, #Ge 2:3|. The setting apart one day in seven for holy
work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was ever since God
created man upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the
Divine laws. 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 make it ready. This directs us to contrive
family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible
in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on
that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do,
that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the
life that is to come. When they kept manna against a command, it
stank; when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and good;
every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the
seventh day God did not send the manna, therefore they must not
expect it, nor go out to gather. This showed that it was
produced by miracle.
#32-36 God having provided manna to be his people's food in the
wilderness, the remembrance of it was to be preserved. Eaten
bread must not be forgotten. God's miracles and mercies are to
be had in remembrance. The word of God is the manna by which our
souls are nourished, #Mt 4:4|. The comforts of the Spirit are
hidden manna, #Re 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. 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 days, the morning of our
opportunities; which if we let slip, it may be too late to
gather. The manna must not be hoarded up, but eaten; those who
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
enough, but not more than we need. But those who ate manna,
hungered again, died at last, and with many of them God was not
well pleased; whereas they that feed on Christ by faith, shall
never hunger, and shall die no more, and with them God will be
for ever well pleased. Let us seek earnestly for the grace of
the Holy Spirit, to turn all our knowledge of the doctrine of
Christ crucified, into the spiritual nourishment of our souls by
faith and love.