Exodus 16:1-3

Exodus 16:1-3

[1] And they took their journey  from Elim,  and all the congregation  of the children  of Israel  came  unto the wilderness  of Sin,  which is between Elim  and Sinai,  on the fifteenth  day  of the second  month  after their departing out  of the land  of Egypt.  [2] And the whole congregation  of the children  of Israel  murmured  against Moses  and Aaron  in the wilderness:  [3] And the children  of Israel  said  unto them, Would to God  we had died  by the hand  of the LORD  in the land  of Egypt,  when we sat  by the flesh  pots,  and when we did eat  bread  to the full;  for ye have brought us forth  into this wilderness,  to kill  this whole assembly  with hunger. 

What does Exodus 16:1-3 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The wilderness of Sin evidently lay in the southwestern part of the Sinai peninsula ( Exodus 16:1). Its name relates to Sinai, the name of the mountain range located on its eastern edge. Aharoni believed that Paran was the original name of the entire Sinai Peninsula. [1]
This was Israel"s third occasion of grumbling ( Exodus 16:2; cf. Exodus 14:11-12; Exodus 15:24). The reason this time was not fear of the Egyptian army or lack of water but lack of food ( Exodus 16:3).
"A pattern is thus established here that continues throughout the narratives of Israel"s sojourn in the wilderness. As the people"s trust in the Lord and in Moses waned in the wilderness, the need grew for stricter lessons." [2]