Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/190



OSES ordered  them  to  depart  from  Elim  and  go  on  towards  the  wilderness. They marched  three  days  through  the wilderness, and  found  no  water. Finding some  at  last  they  could not drink  it,  because  it  was  bitter. The people  murmured  against Moses, saying:  “What  shall  we  drink?”  Moses  prayed,  and  the  Lord showed him  a tree,  the  wood  of  which,  when  cast  into  the  water, rendered it  sweet.

And when  they  had  gone  far  into  the  wilderness,  the  people began to  murmur  still  more,  seeing  that  there  was  no  food,  and they wished  that  they  had  remained  and  died  in  Egypt,  asking Moses why  he  had  brought  them  out  into  the  wilderness  to die. Instead of  punishing  them  for  their  want  of  confidence, God, full  of  mercy  and  goodness,  promised  to  give  them  food in abundance.

He sent  them,  accordingly,  every  evening  quails  in  vast  numbers, sufficient for  all  the  children  of  Israel  to  eat; and,  in  the  morning, a delicious white  food  which  fell  from  heaven. When the  Israelites saw the  bread,  which  looked  like  hoar-frost,  they  exclaimed  “Manhu”, which signifies:  “What  is  this?”  Moses  informed  them  that  it  was the bread  which  the  Lord gave  them. He then  told  every  one to gather  of  it,  as  much  as  he  needed.

They did  so,  and  found  it  pleasant  to  eat,  tasting  like  flour mixed with  honey. On the  day  before  the  Sabbath  they  gathered a double quantity,  as  none  fell  on  the  Sabbath. This Manna was their  food  for  forty  years,  until  they  reached  the  confines  of Chanaan.