16Exodus 16

The Sends Food from Heaven

1On the fifteenth day of the second month after the Israelites had escaped from Egypt, they left Elim and started through the western edge of the Sinai Desert in the direction of Mount Sinai.Select Exodus 16:1

2There in the desert they started complaining to Moses and Aaron,Select Exodus 16:2

3“We wish the Lord had killed us in Egypt. When we lived there, we could at least sit down and eat all the bread and meat we wanted. But you have brought us out here into this desert, where we are going to starve.”Select Exodus 16:3

4The Lord said to Moses, “I will send bread down from heaven like rain. Tell the people to go out each day and gather only enough for that day. That's how I will see if they obey me.Select Exodus 16:4

5But on the sixth day of each week they must gather and cook twice as much.”Select Exodus 16:5

6Moses and Aaron told the people, “This evening you will know that the Lord was the one who rescued you from Egypt.Select Exodus 16:6

7And in the morning you will see his glorious power, because he has heard your complaints against him. Why should you grumble to us? Who are we?”Select Exodus 16:7

8Then Moses continued, “You will know it is the Lord when he gives you meat each evening and more than enough bread each morning. He is really the one you are complaining about, not us—we are nobodies—but the Lord has heard your complaints.”Select Exodus 16:8

9Moses turned to Aaron and said, “Bring the people together, because the Lord has heard their complaints.”Select Exodus 16:9

10Aaron was speaking to them, when everyone looked out toward the desert and saw the bright glory of the Lord in a cloud.Select Exodus 16:10

11The Lord said to Moses,Select Exodus 16:11

12“I have heard my people complain. Now tell them that each evening they will have meat and each morning they will have more than enough bread. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”Select Exodus 16:12

13That evening a lot of quails came and landed everywhere in the camp, and the next morning dew covered the ground.Select Exodus 16:13

14After the dew had gone, the desert was covered with thin flakes that looked like frost.Select Exodus 16:14

15The people had never seen anything like this, and they started asking each other, “What is it?” Moses answered, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.Select Exodus 16:15

16And he orders you to gather about two liters for each person in your family—that should be more than enough.”Select Exodus 16:16

17They did as they were told. Some gathered more and some gathered less.Select Exodus 16:17

18Everyone had exactly what they needed, just the right amount.Select Exodus 16:18

19Moses told them not to keep any overnight.Select Exodus 16:19

20Some of them disobeyed, but the next morning what they kept was stinking and full of worms, and Moses was angry.Select Exodus 16:20

21Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and in the heat of the day the rest melted.Select Exodus 16:21

22However, on the sixth day of the week, everyone gathered enough to have four liters, instead of two. When the leaders reported this to Moses,Select Exodus 16:22

23he told them that the Lord had said, “Tomorrow is the Sabbath, a sacred day of rest in honor of me. So gather all you want to bake or boil, and make sure you save enough for tomorrow.”Select Exodus 16:23

24The people obeyed, and the next morning the food smelled fine and had no worms.Select Exodus 16:24

25“You may eat the food,” Moses said. “Today is the Sabbath in honor of the Lord, and there won't be any of this food on the ground today.Select Exodus 16:25

26You will find it there for the first six days of the week, but not on the Sabbath.”Select Exodus 16:26

27A few of the Israelites did go out to look for some, but there was none.Select Exodus 16:27

28Then the Lord said, “Moses, how long will you people keep disobeying my laws and teachings?Select Exodus 16:28

29Remember that I was the one who gave you the Sabbath. That's why on the sixth day I provide enough bread for two days. Everyone is to stay home and rest on the Sabbath.”Select Exodus 16:29

30And so they rested on the Sabbath.Select Exodus 16:30

31The Israelites called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and delicious as wafers made with honey.Select Exodus 16:31

32Moses told the people that the Lord had said, “Store up two liters of this manna, because I want future generations to see the food I gave you during the time you were in the desert after I rescued you from Egypt.”Select Exodus 16:32

33Then Moses told Aaron, “Put some manna in a jar and store it in the place of worship for future generations to see.”Select Exodus 16:33

34Aaron followed the Lord's instructions and put the manna in front of the sacred chest for safekeeping.Select Exodus 16:34

36The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, before they came to the border of Canaan that was a settled land.Select Exodus 16:36