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Exodus 16:9

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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 Moses {H4872} spake {H559} unto Aaron {H175}, Say {H559} unto all the congregation {H5712} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, Come near {H7126} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}: for he hath heard {H8085} your murmurings {H8519}.

Moshe said to Aharon, "Say to the whole community of Isra'el, 'Come close, into the presence of ADONAI, for he has heard your grumblings.'"

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’”

And Moses said unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before Jehovah; for he hath heard your murmurings.

Commentary

Exodus 16:9 captures a pivotal moment in the wilderness journey of the Israelites. After their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the vast congregation found themselves in the Wilderness of Sin, facing hunger and expressing deep discontent. This verse marks God's direct response to their complaints, inviting them to draw near and witness His power and provision.

Context

This verse is set shortly after the Israelites had left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. Despite witnessing incredible miracles, the people quickly began to murmur against Moses and Aaron, longing for the food they had in Egypt, even if it meant slavery. Their complaints were not just against their leaders, but implicitly against God who had led them out. In response, Moses is instructed to tell Aaron to gather the people before the LORD, signifying a divine encounter where God would address their needs and their grievances.

Key Themes

  • Divine Attentiveness: The phrase "for he hath heard your murmurings" immediately highlights God's omnipresence and His attention to the cries—and even complaints—of His people. Even in their faithlessness, God did not ignore them but chose to respond.
  • The Nature of Murmuring: The Israelites' "murmurings" (Hebrew: תְּלוּנֹת, telunot) signify a deep-seated grumbling and complaint, often directed against God's appointed leadership and, by extension, against God Himself. This was a recurring sin throughout their wilderness wanderings, indicating a lack of trust in God's faithfulness and provision.
  • Invitation to Draw Near: "Come near before the LORD" is an invitation for the people to witness God's glory and His imminent act of provision. It's a call to shift their focus from their complaints to the presence and power of God Himself, who was about to demonstrate His care by providing manna and quails.

Related Scriptures

  • The theme of Israel's complaining is pervasive throughout the Pentateuch, for instance, in Numbers 11:1 where their complaints ignite God's anger.
  • God's compassionate response to their physical needs, despite their spiritual shortcomings, foreshadows His continuous provision, as seen in the ultimate provision of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.

Practical Application

Exodus 16:9 reminds us that God hears us, even when our expressions are less than perfect. It challenges us to consider the nature of our own "murmurings" and whether they stem from a lack of faith in God's ability or willingness to provide. Instead of dwelling on our complaints, we are invited to "come near before the LORD," to draw into His presence with an expectation of His divine care and provision. This verse encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is attentive to our needs and will respond in His perfect timing and way.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 16:16 (4 votes)

    And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

  • Exodus 16:8 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Exodus 16:2 (2 votes)

    And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: