Exodus 16:22-30

Exodus 16:22-30

[22] And it came to pass, that on the sixth  day  they gathered  twice  as much bread,  two  omers  for one  man: and all the rulers  of the congregation  came  and told  Moses.  [23] And he said  unto them, This is that which the LORD  hath said,  To morrow  is the rest  of the holy  sabbath  unto the LORD:  bake  to day, and seethe  and that which  remaineth over  lay up  for you to be kept  until the morning.  [24] And they laid it up  till the morning,  as Moses  bade:  and it did not stink,  neither was there any worm  therein. [25] And Moses  said,  Eat  that to day;  is a sabbath  unto the LORD:  to day  ye shall not find  it in the field.  [26] Six  days  ye shall gather  it; but on the seventh  day,  which is the sabbath,  in it there shall be none. [27] And it came to pass, that there went out  some of the people  on the seventh  day  for to gather,  and they found  none. [28] And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  How long refuse  ye to keep  my commandments  and my laws?  [29] See,  for that the LORD  hath given  you the sabbath,  therefore he giveth  you on the sixth  day  the bread  of two days;  abide  ye every man  go out  of his place  on the seventh  day.  [30] So the people  rested  on the seventh  day. 

What does Exodus 16:22-30 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Israelites had not observed the Sabbath or a day of rest until now ( Exodus 16:23). This is probably one reason they did not immediately observe it faithfully as a special day. As slaves in Egypt they probably worked seven days a week. However, God was blessing them with a day of rest and preparing them for the giving of the fourth commandment ( Exodus 20:8-11). This is the first reference to the Sabbath as such in Scripture.