Exodus 16:1   (Read all of Exodus 16)

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.

Exodus 16:3   (Read all of Exodus 16)

The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

Exodus 16:4   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

Exodus 16:5   (Read all of Exodus 16)

On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

Exodus 16:6   (Read all of Exodus 16)

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,

Exodus 16:7   (Read all of Exodus 16)

and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?"

Exodus 16:8   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Moses also said, "You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord."

Exodus 16:9   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.' "

Exodus 16:10   (Read all of Exodus 16)

While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

Exodus 16:11   (Read all of Exodus 16)

The Lord said to Moses,

Exodus 16:15   (Read all of Exodus 16)

When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

Exodus 16:17   (Read all of Exodus 16)

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.

Exodus 16:19   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

Exodus 16:20   (Read all of Exodus 16)

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.

Exodus 16:21   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

Exodus 16:22   (Read all of Exodus 16)

On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much-two omers for each person-and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.

Exodus 16:23   (Read all of Exodus 16)

He said to them, "This is what the Lord commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

Exodus 16:24   (Read all of Exodus 16)

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.

Exodus 16:25   (Read all of Exodus 16)

"Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today.

Exodus 16:26   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

Exodus 16:27   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.

Exodus 16:28   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?

Exodus 16:29   (Read all of Exodus 16)

Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out."

Exodus 16:30   (Read all of Exodus 16)

So the people rested on the seventh day.