Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Proper 13B

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The whole congregationA of the IsraelitesB complainedC

Notes on verse 2a

A “congregation” = edah. From yaad (to appoint, assemble or gather selves, agree) OR from ed (witness, testimony, recorder); from ud (to admonish, repeat, duplicate, testify, restore, record, relieve). This is a congregation, assembly, or company. It could be a family, crowd, or fixture.
B “Israelites” = ben + Yisrael. Literally “children of Israel.” Ben is from banah (to build or obtain children). This is son, age, child. It is son in a literal or figurative sense. Yisrael is from sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + El (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.
C “complained” = lun. This is to stay somewhere, usually for the night. It can mean abide, dwell, or endure. By implication, it can mean staying somewhere permanently. Taken in a negative sense, this would mean obstinance, particularly verbal. So, it can also mean murmur, grudge, or complaining.

against MosesD and AaronE in the wilderness.F 

Notes on verse 2b

D “Moses” = Mosheh. From mashah (to pull out in a literal or figurative sense, to draw out) OR from Egyptian mes or mesu (child, son i.e. child of…). This is Moses – the one drawn out from the water, which is to say, rescued. If derived from the Egyptian, his name would share a root with Rameses and Thutmose.
E “Aaron” = Aharon. Derivation uncertain. May mean “bearer of martyrs” OR be related to Ancient Egyptian ꜥḥꜣ rw (warrior lion) OR elevated, exalted, high mountain. This is Aaron. See https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aaron
F “wilderness” = midbar. From dabar (to speak, command, declare). This is mouth or speech. It can also be desert or wilderness. Additionally, it can be used for a pasture to which one drives cattle.

The Israelites said to them, “If onlyG we had diedH by the handI of the LordJ in the landK

Notes on verse 3a

G {untranslated} = natan. This is to give, put, set, offer. It is to give literally or figuratively.
H “died” = mut. This is to die in a literal or figurative sense. It can also refer to being a dead body.
I “hand” = yad. This is hand, ability, power. Hand in a literal sense, but also what one can do or the means by which one does it.
J “Lord” = YHVH. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (to come to pass, become, be). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
K “land” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.

of Egypt,L when we satM by the fleshpotsN

Notes on verse 3b

L “Egypt” = Mitsrayim. Perhaps from matsor (besieged or fortified place, bulwark, entrenchment; something hemmed in; a siege or distress or fastness); from tsur (to confine, besiege, to cramp). This is Egypt.
M “sat” = yashab. This is to sit and so to remain and so to dwell. It is sitting for any reason – as a judge, in order to ambush, or just sitting quietly. Causatively, this can mean settling or marrying. This can also mean continue, endure, or establish
N “fleshpots” = siyr + basar. Siyr is from a root that may mean to boil. So it is a pot or pan. It can also be a thorn because it grows quickly or a hook. Basar is from basar (being a messenger, publish, carry preach; properly, this is being fresh, rosy or cheerful as one bearing news). This is flesh, the body, fat, skin, self, nakedness, humankind, or kin. It can also refer to private parts.

and ateO our fillP of bread;Q for you have brought us outR into this wilderness to killS this whole assemblyT with hunger.”U

Notes on verse 3c

O “ate” = akal. This is to eat, devour, burn up, or otherwise consume. It can be eating in a literal or figurative sense.
P “fill” = soba. 8x in OT. From saba (to be satisfied or full in a literal or figurative sense; to have plenty of). This is abundance, fullness, satisfaction. Properly, it is being sated – having enough food. Figuratively, it is fullness of joy.
Q “bread” = lechem. From lacham (to eat, feed on). This is bread, food, loaf. It can refer to food more generally for people or for animals.
R “brought…out” = yatsa. This is to go or come out, bring forth, appear. It is to go out in a literal or figurative sense.
S “kill” = mut. Same as “died” in v3. See note H above.
T “assembly” = qahal. This is an assembly, congregation, or multitude.
U “hunger” = raab. From raeb (to be hungry). This is hunger, death, or hunger from famine.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “VI am going to rain bread from heavenW for you, and each dayX the peopleY

Notes on verse 4a

V {untranslated} = hen. This is a remark of surprise or excitement: lo! Behold! It can also mean if or though.
W “heaven” = shamayim. Root may mean being lofty. This is sky, the air, or heaven. It is in a dual noun form so this might refer to the part of the sky where the clouds move on the one hand and the part beyond that where the sun, moon, and stars are on the other hand.
X “each day” = yom + yom. Literally “day upon his day.” Root may mean being hot. This is the day in a literal or figurative sense. It can also mean birth, age, daylight, continually or other references to time.
Y “people” = am. From amam (to darken, hide, associate; creating shadows by huddling together). This is people or nation. It can be used specifically for a tribe, collectively of troops or armies, or figuratively to refer to a flock of animals.

shall go outZ and gatherAA enoughBB for that day.

Notes on verse 4b

Z “go out” = yatsa. Same as “brought…out” in v3. See note R above.
AA “gather” = laqat. This is to pick up, glean, gather.
BB “enough” = dabar. Related to “wilderness” in v2. From dabar (see note F above). This is speech, a word, a matter, an affair, charge, command, message, promise, purpose, report, request. It is a word, which implies things that are spoken of in a wide sense.

In that way I will testCC them, whether they will followDD my instructionEE or not. 

Notes on verse 4c

CC “test” = nasah. This is to test, prove, try, tempt, or attempt.
DD “follow” = halak. This is go, come, walk. It is walk literally and figuratively and includes people and animals. It can be used figuratively for one’s moral life – how we walk according to God’s way or against it. It can also refer to the walk of life as in the course one’s life takes, the choices we make, etc.
EE “instruction” = torah. From yarah (to throw, shoot, be stunned; to flow as water so figuratively to instruct or teach). This is law, instruction, teaching, or statute. It can also refer to the first five books of the Bible – the Torah.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw nearFF toGG the Lord, for he has heardHH your complaining.’”II 

Notes on verse 9

FF “draw near” = qarab. This is to come near, offer, make ready, approach, take.
GG “to” = paneh. Literally “before the face of.” From panah (to turn, face, appear). This is face in a literal or figurative sense. It could be face, presence, anger, respect. It can also be used of God to indicate divine favor or presence.
HH“heard” = shama. This is to hear, call, consent, or consider. It implies listening intelligently, giving attention, and, because of these two factors, obedience and action are often implied.
II “complaining” = tlunah. Related to “complained” in v2. 9x in OT. From lun (see note C above). This is complaining, murmuring, being stubborn. It can also mean exalted or lofty.

10 AndJJ as Aaron spokeKK to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they lookedLL toward the wilderness, andMM the gloryNN of the Lord 

Notes on verse 10a

JJ {untranslated} = hayah. Related to “Lord” in v3. See note J above.
KK “spoke” = dabar. Related to “wilderness” in v2 & “enough” in v4. See note F above.
LL “looked” = panah. Related to “to” in v9. See note GG above.
MM {untranslated} = hinneh. Related to {untranslated} in v4. From hen (see note V above). This is to draw attention, show suddenness or surprise, or to emphasize the importance of the coming statement. See! Lo! Behold!
NN “glory” = kabod. From kabad (to be heavy, weighty, burdensome). This is weighty. Figuratively, glorious, abundant, riches, honor, splendor – a reference to one’s reputation or character. This word is often used to describe God and God’s presence.

appearedOO in the cloud.PP 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat,QQ and in the morningRR you shall have your fillSS of bread;

Notes on verses 10b-12a

OO “appeared” = raah. This is to see in a literal or figurative sense so stare, advise, think, view.
PP “cloud” = anan. May be from anan (cover, cloud over; figuratively, acting in a secret way, practicing magic or soothsaying). This is a cloud as something that covers the sky.
QQ “meat” = basar. Same as “fleshpots” in v3. See note N above.
RR “morning” = boqer. From baqar (to seek, plow, break forth, admire, care for). This refers to the break of day. So it is dawn, early, morning, or morrow.
SS “have…fill” = saba. Related to “fill” in v3. See note P above.

then you shall knowTT that I am the Lord your God.’”UU

13 VVIn the evening quailsWW

Notes on verses 12b-13a

TT “know” = yada. This is to know, acknowledge, advise, answer, be aware, be acquainted with. Properly, this is to figure something out by seeing. It includes ideas of observation, recognition, and care about something. It can be used causatively for instruction, designation, and punishment.
UU “God” = Elohim.
VV {untranslated} = hayah. Same as {untranslated} in v10. See note JJ above.
WW “quails” = selav. 4x in OT– all in reference to the quails in the wilderness wanderings. Perhaps related to Arabic (“to be fat”) OR related to shalah (to be quiet, safe, tranquil; can imply success or happiness; could also mean to deceive or be negligent). This is a quail as a slow-moving bird. See https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/Q/quail.html

came upXX and coveredYY the camp;ZZ

Notes on verse 13b

XX “came up” = alah. This is to go up, approach, ascend, be high, be a priority; to arise in a literal or figurative sense.
YY “covered” = kasah. This is to cover, conceal, overwhelm. It is to cover as clothes do or to hide a secret.
ZZ “camp” = machaneh. From chanah (to decline, bending down, or living in tents; can be camping to create a home or camping as a part of battle). This is an encampment, whether of people traveling together or soldiers. So, it can be a camp band, or company as well as an army of soldiers. Also can be used of other groups like animals, angels or stars.

and in the morning there wasAAA a layerBBB of dewCCC aroundDDD the camp. 

Notes on verse 13c

AAA “was” = hayah. Same as {untranslated} in v10. See note JJ above.
BBB “layer” = shekabah. 9x in OT. From shakab (to lie down, lodge; lying for sleep, sex, or other reasons). This is an act of lying so it could be a layer, the act of copulation, or an emission.
CCC “dew” = tal. Perhaps from talal (to cover, roof, strew). This is dew or mist as something that covers plants.
DDD “around” = sabib. From sabab (turning around, going around; to surround, cast, walk, fetch; to revolve or border in a literal or figurative sense). This is a circuit or a circle. It could refer to an environment, one’s neighbors, or a circular path round about.

14 When the layer of dew lifted,EEE thereFFF on the surfaceGGG of the wilderness was a fineHHH flaky substance,III as fine as frostJJJ on the ground.KKK 

Notes on verse 14

EEE “lifted” = alah. Same as “came up” in v13. See note XX above.
FFF “there” = hinneh. Same as {untranslated} in v10. See note MM above.
GGG “surface” = paneh. Same as “to” in v9. See note GG above.
HHH “fine” = daq. 15x in OT. From daqaq (to crush, crumble, make dust, be very small). This is thin, crushed, small, very little.
III “flaky substance” = chaspas. 1x in OT. This is something flaky like a scale or round. Root may mean to peel.
JJJ “frost” = kphor. 12x in OT. From kaphar (to appease, cover, pacify, cancel). This is a cover, which could imply a basin or goblet or a frost that covers the ground.
KKK “ground” = erets. Same as “land” in v3. See note K above.

15 When the Israelites sawLLL it, they said to one another,MMM “What is it?”NNN For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has givenOOO you to eat.PPP 

Notes on verse 15

LLL “saw” = raah. Same as “appeared” in v10. See note OO above.
MMM “to one another” = ish + el + ach. Literally “a man to his brother.” Ish is perhaps from enosh (human, humankind, mortal); from anash (to be weak, sick, or frail). This is man, husband, another, or humankind. Ach is brother, kindred, another, other, like. It is literally brother, but it can also be someone who is similar, resembling, or related to.
NNN “what is it” = man + hu. Man is 14x in OT. From mah (what, how, how long, why – a question or exclamation). This is manna, literally a whatzit.
OOO “given” = natan. Same as {untranslated} in v3. See note G above.
PPP “eat” = oklah. Literally “for food.” Related to “ate” in v3. 18x in OT. From okel (food, prey, meat, eating); from akal (see note O above). This is food, eating, fuel, meat, consume.


Image credit: “Dawn’s First Light” – at White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Photo by Howard Ignatius, 2011.

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