On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. On the fifteenth day of the second monthThis phrase marks a specific time in the Israelites' journey, emphasizing the precision of God's timing. The Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, and the second month, Iyar, follows Nisan, the month of Passover. This timing is significant as it shows the Israelites' dependence on God shortly after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. It reminds us that God's provision is timely and purposeful, often aligning with His divine calendar rather than our own. after they had left the land of Egypt
This phrase recalls the monumental event of the Exodus, where God delivered His people from slavery. The Hebrew word for "left" (יָצָא, yatsa) implies a going out or departure, symbolizing liberation and a new beginning. This departure is not just physical but spiritual, as the Israelites are called to leave behind the bondage of Egypt and trust in God's promises. It serves as a reminder of the Christian journey from the bondage of sin to the freedom found in Christ. the whole congregation of Israel
The term "congregation" (עֵדָה, edah) refers to the collective body of the Israelites, highlighting their unity and shared experience. This unity is crucial as they face the challenges of the wilderness. It reflects the importance of community and fellowship in the faith journey, where believers support and encourage one another. The phrase underscores the collective identity of God's people, bound together by covenant and purpose. set out from Elim
Elim was an oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees, a place of rest and refreshment after the harshness of the desert. The departure from Elim signifies a transition from comfort to challenge, a common theme in the spiritual journey. It teaches that while God provides times of rest, He also calls His people to move forward in faith, trusting Him in the unknown. This movement is a reminder of the Christian call to follow Christ, even when it leads away from comfort. and came to the Wilderness of Sin
The Wilderness of Sin, not related to the English word "sin," is a geographical area between Elim and Sinai. The Hebrew word "Sin" (סִין) is likely derived from the name of a local deity or geographical feature. This wilderness represents a place of testing and reliance on God. It is here that God provides manna, teaching the Israelites to depend on Him daily. The wilderness experience is a metaphor for the trials believers face, where faith is refined and dependence on God is deepened. which is between Elim and Sinai
This phrase situates the Wilderness of Sin geographically, highlighting the journey towards Sinai, where the Israelites will receive the Law. The positioning between Elim and Sinai signifies a transition from physical sustenance to spiritual revelation. It underscores the journey of faith, where believers move from experiencing God's provision to receiving His instruction and covenant. This journey is a reminder of the Christian pilgrimage towards deeper understanding and relationship with God. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Congregation of IsraelThis refers to the entire assembly of the Israelites who had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. They are on a journey to the Promised Land, led by Moses under God's guidance. 2. ElimA place where the Israelites camped before entering the Wilderness of Sin. It was known for its twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, providing a temporary oasis for the Israelites. 3. Wilderness of SinA desert region between Elim and Sinai. The name "Sin" is not related to the English word for wrongdoing but is likely derived from a Semitic root meaning "clay" or "mud." 4. SinaiThe mountain where God would later give the Ten Commandments to Moses. It represents a significant place of divine revelation and covenant. 5. The Fifteenth Day of the Second MonthThis marks a specific time in the Israelites' journey, approximately one month after their departure from Egypt, highlighting the ongoing nature of their reliance on God for sustenance. Teaching Points Dependence on GodThe Israelites' journey through the wilderness is a powerful reminder of our need to rely on God for daily provision and guidance. Just as they depended on God for manna, we are called to trust Him for our needs. Spiritual JourneyThe physical journey of the Israelites mirrors our spiritual journey. We, too, are on a path from bondage (sin) to freedom (salvation), and we must remain faithful and obedient to God's leading. God's TimingThe specific mention of the "fifteenth day of the second month" underscores God's perfect timing in His plans. We are encouraged to trust His timing in our lives, even when the path seems uncertain. Community and UnityThe "whole congregation of Israel" moved together, highlighting the importance of community and unity among believers. We are called to support and encourage one another in our faith journeys. Preparation for RevelationThe journey to Sinai, where the Israelites would receive the Law, reminds us that God often prepares us through trials and testing for greater revelations and responsibilities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the journey from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin reflect our own spiritual journeys, and what can we learn from the Israelites' experiences? 2. In what ways can we cultivate a deeper dependence on God for our daily needs, as the Israelites did with manna? 3. How does the concept of God's perfect timing challenge or encourage you in your current life circumstances? 4. What role does community play in your spiritual journey, and how can you contribute to the unity and support of your faith community? 5. How can we prepare ourselves to receive and respond to God's revelations and commands, as the Israelites were being prepared for the giving of the Law at Sinai? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 15:27Describes the Israelites' arrival at Elim, providing context for their journey and the transition to the Wilderness of Sin. Numbers 33:10-11Offers a parallel account of the Israelites' travels, confirming the sequence of their journey from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin. John 6:31-35Jesus refers to the manna provided in the wilderness, connecting the physical sustenance given to the Israelites with the spiritual sustenance He offers as the Bread of Life. People Aaron, Ephah, Israelites, MosesPlaces Canaan, Elim, Sin Desert, SinaiTopics Assembly, Community, Company, Congregation, Departed, Departing, Departure, Desert, Egypt, Elim, Fifteenth, Journey, Journeyed, Month, Sin, Sinai, Sons, Waste, WildernessDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 16:1 4230 desert Exodus 16:1-3 1418 miracles, responses Exodus 16:1-10 7206 community Exodus 16:1-14 4478 meat Exodus 16:1-30 8131 guidance, results Library The Bread of God
'Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no. 5. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 6. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureSeptember the Twenty-Eighth the Daily Manna
"I will rain bread from heaven for you." --EXODUS xvi. 11-18. And this gracious provision is made for people who are complaining, and who are sighing for the flesh-pots of Egypt! Our Lord can be patient with the impatient: He can be "kind to the unthankful." If it were easy to drive the Lord away I should have succeeded long ago. I have murmured, I have sulked, I have turned Him out of my thoughts, and "He stands at the door and knocks!" I yearn for "the flesh-pots," "He sends me manna," "Was …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year Dining with a Pharisee. Sabbath Healing and Three Lessons Suggested by the Event.
(Probably Peræa.) ^C Luke XIV. 1-24. ^c 1 And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him. [The Pharisees were an unorganized party, hence their rulers were such not by office, but by influence. Those who were members of the Sanhedrin, or who were distinguished among the rabbis, might fitly be spoken of as rulers among them. The context favors the idea that Jesus was invited for the purpose of being …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Beauty and Glory of the Risen Body.
We have seen in the foregoing chapters that, in the Beatific Vision, the human soul sees, loves, and enjoys God, and that her essential happiness consists in that unfailing, blessed vision. But, although the blessedness she now enjoys is far greater than words can express, it is not yet integral or complete, and never will be, except when she is again clothed in her own body, beautified, and glorified after the likeness of her Saviour's body. However, although her happiness is not yet complete, you …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing The Personality of Power.
A Personally Conducted Journey. Everyone enjoys the pleasure of travel; but nearly all shrink back from its tiresomeness and drudgery. The transportation companies are constantly scheming to overcome this disagreeable side for both pleasure and business travel. One of the popular ways of pleasure travel of late is by means of personally conducted tours. A party is formed, often by the railroad company, and is accompanied by a special agent to attend to all the business matters of the trip. A variation …
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
To Felix, Bishop of Messana. To our most reverend brother, the Bishop Felix, Gregory, servant of the servants of God [246] . Our Head, which is Christ, to this end has willed us to be His members, that through His large charity and faithfulness He might make us one body in Himself, to whom it befits us so to cling that, since without Him we can do nothing, through Him we may be enabled to be what we are called. From the citadel of the Head let nothing divide us, lest, if we refuse to be His members, …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great How Subjects and Prelates are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 5.) Differently to be admonished are subjects and prelates: the former that subjection crush them not, the latter that superior place elate them not: the former that they fail not to fulfil what is commanded them, the latter that they command not more to be fulfilled than is just: the former that they submit humbly, the latter that they preside temperately. For this, which may be understood also figuratively, is said to the former, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: but to …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great 1 to Pray is as it were to be on Speaking Terms with Me...
1. To pray is as it were to be on speaking terms with Me, and so by being in communion with and abiding in Me to become like Me. There is a kind of insect which feeds upon and lives among grass and green leaves and becomes like them in colour. Also the polar bear dwelling among the white snows has the same snowy whiteness, and the tiger of Bengal bears upon its skin the marks of the reeds among which it lives. So those, who by means of prayer abide in communion with Me partake, with the saints and …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Deity of the Holy Spirit.
In the preceding chapter we have seen clearly that the Holy Spirit is a Person. But what sort of a Person is He? Is He a finite person or an infinite person? Is He God? This question also is plainly answered in the Bible. There are in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments five distinct and decisive lines of proof of the Deity of the Holy Spirit. I. Each of the four distinctively Divine attributes is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. What are the distinctively Divine attributes? Eternity, omnipresence, …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 16:1 NIVExodus 16:1 NLTExodus 16:1 ESVExodus 16:1 NASBExodus 16:1 KJV
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