Exodus 16:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

NIV: However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

NASB: But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank; and Moses was angry with them.

CSB: But they didn’t listen to Moses; some people left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. Therefore Moses was angry with them.

NLT: But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.

KJV: Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

NKJV: Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Moses' anger is only mentioned a few times (Exodus 11:8; 32:19; Leviticus 10:16; Numbers 16:15; 31:14). Most of the time when it rises, it seems to be righteous anger (Ephesians 4:26) rather than inappropriate rage (Numbers 20:10–13). Anger seems reasonable in this case. A recurring theme of the book of Exodus is Israel's persistent disobedience. Despite seeing spectacular miracles, they doubt and despair (Exodus 14:10–11; 16:3; 17:3). They ignore clear, simple instructions such as Moses' command not to keep any collected manna overnight (Exodus 16:14–19, 25).

Rather than trusting God to provide more, they act as if they know better. Of course, the people do not know better than the Lord. The manna kept until the next morning becomes incredibly disgusting. It is not merely useless, but offensive and sickening. Only manna collected the day before a Sabbath will stay edible (Exodus 16:22–24).

God intends the people to rely on Him. The need to seek His provision every day (Exodus 16:21) is an object lesson in our dependence on Him.

Exodus 16:13–30 explains the miraculous provision of meat and bread during Israel's journey through the wilderness. Quail—small birds—arrive at night. In the morning, the ground is covered in a strange substance. This becomes a bread-like food for Israel, later called "manna" (Exodus 16:31). It also symbolizes their daily dependence on God—it could not be kept longer than instructed, so the people had to continually trust the Lord to provide more. To further prove this, God instructs the people to rest on the seventh day of the week.

As the recently-rescued Israelites (Exodus 14:21–31) journey on, they complain about food. God provides them with manna: a grain-like substance which miraculously appears each morning. The people are given instructions about how to gather and use manna. Only on the sixth day of the week can they collect more and keep leftovers for the following day. That seventh day is to be a time of rest, called a "sabbath."

Israel has celebrated (Exodus 15:1) their miraculous escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–28). They have survived their first hardship (Exodus 15:23–25). God now provides manna in response to their complaints about food. He also begins to establish the concept of the seventh-day Sabbath. Soon, the Lord will send another miracle regarding water (Exodus 17:1–7) and the people will have their first military battle (Exodus 17:8–16). Shortly after this, Moses' father-in-law will arrive and offer some helpful advice (Exodus 18).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 6/15/2025 5:58:32 AM