Exodus 15:22-16:13
For a week, Israel had fled from Egypt, averaging thirty or more miles a day in long forced marches. After the Egyptian army was destroyed, they no longer had to make the forced marches. Caravans in the region usually average about sixteen to twenty two miles per day. In general, smaller caravans are able to move faster than large ones so it is doubtful that Israel would average more than about sixteen miles a day under normal conditions.
“So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:22-24)
After crossing the Red Sea at the Nuweiba beach, Israel turned to the south, into the wilderness of Shur and traveled almost fifty miles without finding water. When they finally arrived at Marah, the water was undrinkable. Since Moses had herded sheep in the area for forty years, they blamed him for being unable to find water, ignoring the fact that they were still being led by the pillar of cloud.
“And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:25-26)
God had deliberately brought Israel to Marah to test and build their faith. When Moses prayed, God showed him a particular tree that, when thrown into the water, neutralized the chemicals in it, rendering it drinkable. Using the incident, he then stressed the importance of following exactly what God said to lay a foundation for their acceptance of the Mosaic Law, which he would give shortly. If they would keep his commandments, God would prevent their experiencing the plagues he had brought on the Egyptians. The same promises will be repeated at intervals throughout their stay in the wilderness.
“And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.” (Exodus 15:27)
About a days journey from Marah, they came to the oasis at Elim. The Middianites, sometimes referred to as Ishmelites or descendants of Ishmael had dug twelve wells and planted palm tree sand camped there until the middle of the next month. It was undoubtedly a welcome break from traveling, and any food growing in the area would have been appreciated.. There are indications that some of them may have visited the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba during their stay.
“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 16:1)
From Elim, the pillar of cloud led them to the northward toward Mt. Sinai, through the wilderness of Sin. This is not the Mt. Sinai shown on modern maps, but the Mountain no known as Jebel El Laws. Explorers during the early eighteen hundreds insisted that present day Mt Sinai could not possibly be the Mt. Sinai described in the Bible, because it did not meet the descriptions but European experts convinced convinced cartographers to label it as Mt. Sinai. Paul, in Galatians 4:25 stated, “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia...” The mountain known as Mt. Sinai today is not in Arabia. Local people still refer to Jebel El Laws as the mountain of Moses.
"And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16:3)
After a month away from Egypt, Israel had exhausted their food supply. The wilderness could not possibly supply enough food for 600,000 men, much less their families. Suddenly, they remembered the “good old days” back in Egypt when their food was given by the Egyptians. Like many people, they focused on the problems rather than on the blessings and opportunities. It always results in dissatisfaction and complaining.
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” (Exodus 16:6-7)
God promised to rain food from heaven every day. They were to gather enough for each person every day, except on the sixth day, Friday, when they were to gather twice as much. It was planned specifically that way to teach Israel to trust God day by day. Their trust would be demonstrated by obeying his commands.
“And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. ” (Exodus 16:8-13)
Numbers 11:4-34 makes it clear that in fact, initially the manna came down as promised in verses 6 and 7, but that eight to ten months later, as result of further complaining, God began providing the quail in the evening. That it is included here seems to indicate that the Pentateuch is a compilation of records by several observers and participants. Moses himself would have been unlikely to forget such a distinction. Rather than detracting from the story, such minor inconsistencies reinforce the basic truth, implying that more than one person are sharing their own experiences rather than quoting someone else's story.
For a week, Israel had fled from Egypt, averaging thirty or more miles a day in long forced marches. After the Egyptian army was destroyed, they no longer had to make the forced marches. Caravans in the region usually average about sixteen to twenty two miles per day. In general, smaller caravans are able to move faster than large ones so it is doubtful that Israel would average more than about sixteen miles a day under normal conditions.
“So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:22-24)
After crossing the Red Sea at the Nuweiba beach, Israel turned to the south, into the wilderness of Shur and traveled almost fifty miles without finding water. When they finally arrived at Marah, the water was undrinkable. Since Moses had herded sheep in the area for forty years, they blamed him for being unable to find water, ignoring the fact that they were still being led by the pillar of cloud.
“And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:25-26)
God had deliberately brought Israel to Marah to test and build their faith. When Moses prayed, God showed him a particular tree that, when thrown into the water, neutralized the chemicals in it, rendering it drinkable. Using the incident, he then stressed the importance of following exactly what God said to lay a foundation for their acceptance of the Mosaic Law, which he would give shortly. If they would keep his commandments, God would prevent their experiencing the plagues he had brought on the Egyptians. The same promises will be repeated at intervals throughout their stay in the wilderness.
“And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.” (Exodus 15:27)
About a days journey from Marah, they came to the oasis at Elim. The Middianites, sometimes referred to as Ishmelites or descendants of Ishmael had dug twelve wells and planted palm tree sand camped there until the middle of the next month. It was undoubtedly a welcome break from traveling, and any food growing in the area would have been appreciated.. There are indications that some of them may have visited the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba during their stay.
“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 16:1)
From Elim, the pillar of cloud led them to the northward toward Mt. Sinai, through the wilderness of Sin. This is not the Mt. Sinai shown on modern maps, but the Mountain no known as Jebel El Laws. Explorers during the early eighteen hundreds insisted that present day Mt Sinai could not possibly be the Mt. Sinai described in the Bible, because it did not meet the descriptions but European experts convinced convinced cartographers to label it as Mt. Sinai. Paul, in Galatians 4:25 stated, “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia...” The mountain known as Mt. Sinai today is not in Arabia. Local people still refer to Jebel El Laws as the mountain of Moses.
"And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16:3)
After a month away from Egypt, Israel had exhausted their food supply. The wilderness could not possibly supply enough food for 600,000 men, much less their families. Suddenly, they remembered the “good old days” back in Egypt when their food was given by the Egyptians. Like many people, they focused on the problems rather than on the blessings and opportunities. It always results in dissatisfaction and complaining.
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” (Exodus 16:6-7)
God promised to rain food from heaven every day. They were to gather enough for each person every day, except on the sixth day, Friday, when they were to gather twice as much. It was planned specifically that way to teach Israel to trust God day by day. Their trust would be demonstrated by obeying his commands.
“And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. ” (Exodus 16:8-13)
Numbers 11:4-34 makes it clear that in fact, initially the manna came down as promised in verses 6 and 7, but that eight to ten months later, as result of further complaining, God began providing the quail in the evening. That it is included here seems to indicate that the Pentateuch is a compilation of records by several observers and participants. Moses himself would have been unlikely to forget such a distinction. Rather than detracting from the story, such minor inconsistencies reinforce the basic truth, implying that more than one person are sharing their own experiences rather than quoting someone else's story.
Great post! I love the illustration of God providing exactly what was needed every day for their physical needs, just as He will with our spiritual needs if we seek His daily bread through Bible study and prayer.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Laurie
I'm not sure there is any inconsistency here. The promise of flesh in the evening could have been made once, then forgotten by most of the people, then made again, then fulfilled.
ReplyDeleteEither way, the scripture is trustworthy. As I'm sure you believe, it gives us what Francis Schaeffer used to call "true truth" about the Lord and about people.
My biggest reason for taking the position I did was that the reference in Numbers is several months later, and that they were complaining about the lack of anything but manna to eat. As you say, in either case it demonstrates the trustworthiness of the scriptures.
ReplyDelete