Numbers 11:9

And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

And when the dew {H2919} fell {H3381} upon the camp {H4264} in the night {H3915}, the manna {H4478} fell {H3381} upon it.

When the dew settled on the camp during the night, the man came with it.

When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.

And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

Commentary

Numbers 11:9 describes the daily, miraculous appearance of manna, the bread from heaven, that sustained the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness. This verse highlights the precise and consistent manner of its provision: it appeared with the dew each night, ready to be gathered in the morning.

Context

This verse is situated within the book of Numbers, which chronicles the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their Exodus from Egypt. By this point, they had been receiving manna for some time, as it was first introduced in Exodus 16. However, in Numbers 11, the people begin to complain bitterly about their monotonous diet, longing for the food they had in Egypt. Despite their grumbling and lack of gratitude, God's faithful provision of manna continued, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The verse underscores God's unfailing commitment to provide for His people, even in the harsh, barren wilderness where natural food sources were scarce. The manna was a direct, supernatural intervention.
  • Miraculous Sustenance: The manna was not a natural phenomenon but a miraculous food, appearing daily with the dew. This daily miracle required the Israelites to depend entirely on God for their sustenance.
  • God's Order and Method: The specific detail that "when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it" shows a consistent, orderly pattern to God's miraculous work, making its appearance predictable for gathering.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dew" is tal (טַל), which in biblical contexts is often associated with blessing, freshness, and divine favor or presence. Its mention here emphasizes the gentle, yet pervasive, way the manna appeared. The word "manna" itself comes from the Hebrew man hu (מָן הוּא), meaning "What is it?", reflecting the Israelites' initial bewilderment at this unfamiliar food (Exodus 16:15).

Related Scriptures

  • For the initial account of manna, see Exodus 16:4-35.
  • Deuteronomy 8:3 explains that God fed them manna "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." This verse highlights the spiritual lesson of dependence.
  • In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the true "bread of life," a spiritual fulfillment of the physical manna, as seen in John 6:35.

Practical Application

Numbers 11:9 serves as a powerful reminder of God's consistent and faithful provision. While we do not receive manna from heaven today, the principle of daily dependence on God remains vital. It encourages us to trust in God's ability to meet our needs, both physical and spiritual, even when circumstances seem impossible. This verse also subtly teaches patience and the acceptance of God's chosen methods of provision, even if they are not what we expect or desire. It calls us to recognize and be grateful for the daily blessings God provides.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 16:13

    ΒΆ 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 16:14

    And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness [there lay] a small round thing, [as] small as the hoar frost on the ground.

  • Deuteronomy 32:2

    My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

  • Psalms 105:40

    [The people] asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

  • Psalms 78:23

    Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

  • Psalms 78:25

    Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
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