Manna and Quail from Heaven 1 CPDV And they set out from Elim. And the entire multitude of the sons of Israel arrived at the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after they departed from the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.
2 CPDV And the entire congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. BSB BSB: And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
3 CPDV And the sons of Israel said to them: “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat around bowls of meat and ate bread until filled. Why have you led us away, into this desert, so that you might kill the entire multitude with famine?” BSB BSB: “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”
4 CPDV Then the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Let the people go out and collect what is sufficient for each day, so that I may test them, as to whether or not they will walk in my law. BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.
5 CPDV But on the sixth day, let them prepare what they use for carrying, and let there be double what they were accustomed to collect on a single day.” BSB BSB: Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
6 CPDV And Moses and Aaron said to the sons of Israel: “In the evening, you will know that the Lord has led you away from the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
7 CPDV And in the morning, you will see the glory of the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring against the Lord. But as for us, truly what are we, that you would whisper against us?” BSB BSB: and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?”
8 CPDV And Moses said: “In the evening, the Lord will give you flesh to eat, and in the morning, bread in fullness. For he has heard your murmurings that you have murmured against him. For what are we? Your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord.” BSB BSB: And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
9 CPDV Moses also said to Aaron: “Say to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Approach before the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring.’ ” BSB BSB: Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’”
10 CPDV And when Aaron spoke to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. And behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud. BSB BSB: And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared.
11 CPDV Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses,
12 CPDV “I have heard the murmuring of the sons of Israel. Say to them: ‘In the evening, you will eat flesh, and in the morning, you will be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” BSB BSB: “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
13 CPDV Therefore, it happened in the evening: quails, rising up, covered the camp. Likewise, in the morning, a dew lay all around the camp. BSB BSB: That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.
14 CPDV And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared, in the wilderness, small and as if crushed with a pestle, similar to hoar-frost on the ground. BSB BSB: When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground.
15 CPDV When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: “Manhu?” which means “What is this?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. BSB BSB: When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
16 CPDV This is the word that the Lord has instructed. Let each one collect as much of it as is sufficient to eat. One omer for each head. According to the number of your souls which live in a tent, so will you take of it.” BSB BSB: This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. You may take an omer for each person in your tent.’”
17 CPDV And the sons of Israel did so. And they collected: some more, others less. BSB BSB: So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some less.
18 CPDV And they measured by the measure of an omer. He who collected more, did not have too much; nor did he who prepared less, find too little. But each one gathered according to what they were able to eat. BSB BSB: When they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.
19 CPDV And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it behind until morning.” BSB BSB: Then Moses said to them, “No one may keep any of it until morning.”
20 CPDV And they did not listen to him, but they left some of it behind until morning, and it began to swarm with worms, and it putrefied. And Moses became angry against them. BSB BSB: But they did not listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it became infested with maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
21 CPDV Then each one collected, in the morning, as much as would be sufficient to eat. And after the sun became hot, it melted. BSB BSB: Every morning each one gathered as much as was needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
The Sabbath Observed (Genesis 2:1–3; Hebrews 4:1–11)
22 CPDV But on the sixth day, they collected a double portion, that is, two omers for each man. Then all the leaders among the multitude came, and they discoursed with Moses. BSB BSB: On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.
23 CPDV And he said to them: “This is what the Lord has spoken: Tomorrow, the rest day of the Sabbath, has been sanctified to the Lord. Whatever would be done, do it now. And whatever would be cooked, cook it now. Then anything that will have been left over, store it until morning.” BSB BSB: He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’”
24 CPDV And they did just as Moses had instructed, and it did not putrefy, nor were there any worms found in it. BSB BSB: So they set it aside until morning as Moses had commanded, and it did not smell or contain any maggots.
25 CPDV And Moses said: “Eat it today, because it is the Sabbath of the Lord. Today it will not be found in the field. BSB BSB: “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find anything in the field.
26 CPDV Gather for six days. But on the seventh day, it is the Sabbath of the Lord, for which reason it will not be found.” BSB BSB: For six days you may gather, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, it will not be there.”
27 CPDV And the seventh day arrived. And some of the people, going out to collect it, did not find it. BSB BSB: Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find anything.
28 CPDV Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will you be unwilling to keep my commandments and my law? BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?
29 CPDV See how the Lord has given you the Sabbath, and, because of this, on the sixth day he distributes to you a double portion. Let each one remain with his own, and let no one go forth from his place on the seventh day.” BSB BSB: Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”
30 CPDV And the people kept the Sabbath on the seventh day. BSB BSB: So the people rested on the seventh day.
The Jar of Manna 31 CPDV And the house of Israel called its name ‘Manna.’ It was like white coriander seed, and its taste was like wheat flour with honey. BSB BSB: Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.
32 CPDV Then Moses said: “This is the word that the Lord has instructed: Fill an omer of it, and let it be kept for future generations hereafter, so that they may know the bread, with which I nourished you in the wilderness, when you had been led away from the land of Egypt.” BSB BSB: Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”
33 CPDV And Moses said to Aaron, “Take one vessel, and put manna into it, as much as an omer is able to hold. And store it in the sight of the Lord, to keep for your generations, BSB BSB: So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.”
34 CPDV just as the Lord instructed Moses.” And so, Aaron placed it in the tabernacle, in reserve. BSB BSB: And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
35 CPDV Now the sons of Israel ate manna for forty years, until they arrived in a habitable land. With this food they were nourished, even until they touched the borders of the land of Canaan. BSB BSB: The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
36 CPDV Now an omer is a tenth part of an ephah. BSB BSB: (Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.)