Exodus 16:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’"

NIV: Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’ "

NASB: Then Moses said, 'This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘A full omer of it is to be kept safe throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’?'

CSB: Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Two quarts of it are to be preserved throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’"

NLT: Then Moses said, 'This is what the Lord has commanded: Fill a two-quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when I set you free from Egypt.'

KJV: And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

NKJV: Then Moses said, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

God has provided the people with "manna" (Exodus 16:31), which is provided daily in a miraculous way (Exodus 16:14–15, 21). This grain-like material (Numbers 11:7–8) would sustain them for the next forty years (Exodus 16:35; Joshua 5:12). Once the manna stops arriving, however, God intends for future generations to see what it was like. So, He commands the people to keep one person's daily portion (Exodus 16:16) in a jar. Presumably, this will not spoil like other manna kept beyond its time (Exodus 16:19–20).

This manna would be a relic reminding Israel of their miraculous rescue from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:11–14; 12:40–41). Several other artifacts were known even during the New Testament era (Hebrews 9:4) but were lost. Aaron is said to have kept this jar of manna (Exodus 16:34) with the "testimony." This is a reference to the tablets on which God will record His covenant with Israel (Exodus 25:16). Some commentators suggest that Joshua included these details after Moses' death.

Exodus 16:31–36 reads like a footnote or appendix to the story of the exodus so far. God commands Israel to keep a small jar of manna for future generations to see. Aaron puts this by the "testimony" (Exodus 25:16) given by God. This miraculous supply of food (Exodus 16:14–16) would happen daily for forty years, until the people came into the Promised Land (Joshua 5:12). Since these events look forward, it seems likely they were included by Moses and Joshua later.

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.