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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 16:13-21

Now they begin to be provided for by the immediate hand of God. I. He makes them a feast, at night, of delicate fowl, feathered fowl (Ps. 78:27), therefore not locusts, as some think; quails, or pheasants, or some wild fowl, came up, and covered the camp, so tame that they might take up as many of them as they pleased. Note, God gives us of the good things of this life, not only for necessity, but for delight, that we may not only serve him, but serve him cheerfully. II. Next morning he rained... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:14

And when the dew that lay was gone up ,.... Exhaled by the sun upon the rising of it: behold, upon the face of the wilderness ; upon the surface of it, all around the camp of Israel: there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground ; which is what is in the next verse called "manna". Before the sun rose there was nothing but a dew to be seen; when that was gone off through the force of the sun, then the manna appeared; which was but a "small thing", and very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 16:15

And when the children of Israel saw it ,.... As they could not but observe it, it being spread over the face of the wilderness; and besides, as they were told, that in the morning they should have bread to the full, they were up early to look after it: they said one to another, it is manna ; not such as is known by that name now, which is only used in medicine; nor anything that was then known by any such name; but so they called it, because it was, as Jarchi says, a preparation of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:14

Behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing - It appears that this small round thing fell with the dew, or rather the dew fell first, and this substance fell on it. The dew might have been intended to cool the ground, that the manna on its fall might not be dissolved; for we find from Exodus 16:21 , that the heat of the sun melted it. The ground therefore being sufficiently cooled by the dew, the manna lay unmelted long enough for the Israelites to collect a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:15

They said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was - This is a most unfortunate translation, because it not only gives no sense, but it contradicts itself. The Hebrew הוא מן man hu , literally signifies, What is this? for, says the text, they wist not what it was, and therefore they could not give it a name. Moses immediately answers the question, and says, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. From Exodus 16:31 ; we learn that this substance was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:14

Verse 14 14.And when the dew that lay was gone up. The shape of the manna is here briefly described, viz., that it was like the dew condensed into small round grains. Its taste will be also mentioned elsewhere; but here it was sufficient to show, that this fecundity was not natural, but miraculously given to the clouds, so that they should daily rain manna. For as to the idle talk of certain profane persons, (176) that the manna falls naturally in certain countries, who would thus display the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 16:15

Verse 15 15.And when the children of Israel saw. The Israelites manifested some appearance of gratitude in calling the food given them from heaven, Man, (178) which name means “something prepared;” but if any prefer their opinion who expound it, “a part or portion,” I do not debate the matter, although the former is more correct. Yet, whichever you choose, by this word they confessed that they were dealt with bountifully, because God presented them with food without their having to labor for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 16:1-15

The provision of the manna. This chapter contains an account of the first provision of miraculous bread for Israel in the wilderness. We are told very fully the circumstances in which it was given and the regulations for obtaining and using it. This provision of bread comes very appropriately after the visits to Marah and Elim. The waters had been made sure, and were soon to be made sure again ( Exodus 17:1-16 .); and now the bread is given ( Isaiah 33:16 ). Before God takes the people... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 16:1-36

The manna of the body-A homily on providence. "They said one to another, what is this? (marg.) for they wist not what it was" ( Exodus 16:15 ). Introduction:—Trace the journey from Elim to the sea ( Numbers 33:10 ); and thence to the wilderness of Sin; and give a thoroughly good exegetical exposition of the facts of the manna story. It would be well also to show the supernatural character of the manna; and, at the same time, that the manna supernatural was not unlike (and yet unlike... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 16:1-36

Manna for the soul; a homily on grace. " I am the living bread … he shall live for ever." John 6:51 . Having given the manna story, discussed the miracle, and given the lessons bearing on our providential path, we now go up to the higher level, and listen to the truths taught in relation to the kingdom of God's grace. These gather round the central truth—that the Lord Jesus Christ is the nutriment of the soul. For that truth we have his own supreme authority. [See the full discourse... read more

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