Exodus 16:35

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

And the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} did eat {H398} manna {H4478} forty {H705} years {H8141}, until they came {H935} to a land {H776} inhabited {H3427}; they did eat {H398} manna {H4478}, until they came {H935} unto the borders {H7097} of the land {H776} of Canaan {H3667}.

The people of Isra'el ate man for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate man until they arrived at the borders of the land of Kena'an.

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.

And the children of Israel did eat the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat the manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Commentary

Exodus 16:35 serves as a summary statement regarding God's miraculous provision of manna for the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. This verse highlights the precise duration and cessation of this divine sustenance, emphasizing God's faithfulness in sustaining His people until they reached their destination.

Context of Exodus 16:35

This verse concludes the narrative arc of the manna provision, which began shortly after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. After crossing the Red Sea, the people began to grumble about a lack of food in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:1-3). In response to their complaints, God promised to rain bread from heaven (see Exodus 16:4). The miraculous provision of manna, along with quail, began in the second month after their departure from Egypt, ensuring they had daily nourishment in the harsh desert environment. This daily provision was a crucial part of their journey, demonstrating God's immediate care and preparing them for a life of dependence on Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Provision and Faithfulness: The central theme is God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people. For four decades, He miraculously provided their daily bread, proving His ability and willingness to sustain them even in the most challenging circumstances. This long-term provision underscores God's steadfast character, a theme echoed throughout scripture (e.g., Deuteronomy 8:3).
  • Sustained Dependence: The manna was given daily, requiring the Israelites to trust God for their needs each day. This daily routine fostered a deep dependence on God and taught them patience and obedience, as they were instructed not to gather more than enough for one day, except on the sixth day for the Sabbath.
  • The Wilderness Journey's End: The cessation of manna upon reaching "a land inhabited" and "the borders of the land of Canaan" signifies the end of their nomadic wilderness period and the beginning of their settlement in the Promised Land. This transition marked a new phase where they would eat the produce of the land, signaling the fulfillment of God's promise to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey (see Joshua 5:12 for the account of manna ceasing).

Linguistic Insights

The word "manna" itself is derived from the Hebrew man hu, meaning "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15), reflecting the Israelites' initial bewilderment at this unfamiliar substance. The "forty years" is a significant biblical number, often symbolizing a period of testing, purification, or a generation's lifespan. In this context, it represents the entire duration of the Israelites' wilderness wandering before entering Canaan.

Practical Application

Exodus 16:35 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God is our ultimate provider, capable of meeting our needs in ways we might not expect. Just as He sustained Israel in the wilderness, He promises to care for us. This verse encourages daily trust and patience, recognizing that God's provisions, though sometimes miraculous, are often tied to His timing and our journey towards His ultimate promises. It also highlights that God's provision adapts to our circumstances; what was needed in the wilderness is replaced by new blessings in the promised land, encouraging us to seek His guidance in every season of life.

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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 9:20 (7 votes)

    Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

  • Nehemiah 9:21 (7 votes)

    Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

  • Joshua 5:12 (6 votes)

    And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

  • Deuteronomy 8:2 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

  • Deuteronomy 8:3 (5 votes)

    And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

  • John 6:30 (4 votes)

    They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

  • John 6:58 (4 votes)

    This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.