Saadia's Tafsir on Shemot 16 (Parashat Beshalach)

Shemot 16:1

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאֵילִם וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל-מִדְבַּר-סִין אֲשֶׁר בֵּין-אֵילִם וּבֵין סִינָי--בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

. . . .

And they journeyed from Elim, and the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt.

Shemot 16:2

וילינו (וַיִּלּוֹנוּ) כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל-מֹשֶׁה וְעַל-אַהֲרֹן--בַּמִּדְבָּר

.

And the congregation of the sons of Israel voiced their discontent against Moses and Aaron in that wilderness.

Shemot 16:3

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי-יִתֵּן מוּתֵנוּ בְיַד-יְהוָה בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּשִׁבְתֵּנוּ עַל-סִיר הַבָּשָׂר בְּאָכְלֵנוּ לֶחֶם לָשֹׂבַע כִּי-הוֹצֵאתֶם אֹתָנוּ אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה לְהָמִית אֶת-כָּל-הַקָּהָל הַזֶּה בָּרָעָב

. . . . .

And the sons of Israel said to them: 'Would that we had died by the decree of God in the land of Egypt — when we sat over the pots of meat, and ate of food to our fill — since you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire throng by hunger.'

Shemot 16:4

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הִנְנִי מַמְטִיר לָכֶם לֶחֶם מִן-הַשָּׁמָיִם וְיָצָא הָעָם וְלָקְטוּ דְּבַר-יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ לְמַעַן אֲנַסֶּנּוּ הֲיֵלֵךְ בְּתוֹרָתִי אִם-לֹא

. . . .

And God said to Moses: 'Behold, I am about to send down for you food from the sky; the people shall go out and gather it, a day's portion each day, so that I may test them — whether they will walk in my statutes or not.'

Shemot 16:5

וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי וְהֵכִינוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר-יָבִיאוּ וְהָיָה מִשְׁנֶה עַל אֲשֶׁר-יִלְקְטוּ יוֹם יוֹם

. .

And when it is on the sixth day, they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be double what they gather on every other day.

Shemot 16:6

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֶל-כָּל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֶרֶב--וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי יְהוָה הוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

. . .

And Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel: 'At the evening you shall know that God has brought you out from the land of Egypt;

Shemot 16:7

וּבֹקֶר וּרְאִיתֶם אֶת-כְּבוֹד יְהוָה בְּשָׁמְעוֹ אֶת-תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם עַל-יְהוָה וְנַחְנוּ מָה כִּי תלונו (תַלִּינוּ) עָלֵינוּ

. . .

and in the morning you shall behold the bounty of God, since He has heard your discontent against Him. And who are we, that you voice your discontent against us?'

Shemot 16:8

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּתֵת יְהוָה לָכֶם בָּעֶרֶב בָּשָׂר לֶאֱכֹל וְלֶחֶם בַּבֹּקֶר לִשְׂבֹּעַ בִּשְׁמֹעַ יְהוָה אֶת-תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר-אַתֶּם מַלִּינִם עָלָיו וְנַחְנוּ מָה לֹא-עָלֵינוּ תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם כִּי עַל-יְהוָה

. . . . .

Then Moses said: 'This shall be when God gives you meat to eat at the evening, and food to fill you in the morning — since He has heard your discontent which you voice against Him. And who are we? Your discontent is not against us but against God.'

Shemot 16:9

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-אַהֲרֹן אֱמֹר אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל קִרְבוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה כִּי שָׁמַע אֵת תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם

. . .

And Moses said to Aaron: 'Say to the congregation of the sons of Israel: Come forward before God, for He has heard your discontent.'

Shemot 16:10

וַיְהִי כְּדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְנוּ אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר וְהִנֵּה כְּבוֹד יְהוָה נִרְאָה בֶּעָנָן

. . .

And as Aaron spoke thus to the congregation of the sons of Israel, they turned toward the wilderness — and behold, the light of God had appeared in the cloud.

Shemot 16:11

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Shemot 16:12

שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת-תְּלוּנֹּת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--דַּבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם לֵאמֹר בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם תֹּאכְלוּ בָשָׂר וּבַבֹּקֶר תִּשְׂבְּעוּ-לָחֶם וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . .

'I have heard the discontent of the sons of Israel. Say to them: Between the two evenings you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with food, and you shall know that I am God your Lord.'

Shemot 16:13

וַיְהִי בָעֶרֶב--וַתַּעַל הַשְּׂלָו וַתְּכַס אֶת-הַמַּחֲנֶה וּבַבֹּקֶר הָיְתָה שִׁכְבַת הַטַּל סָבִיב לַמַּחֲנֶה

. . . .

And when it was at the evening, the quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

Shemot 16:14

וַתַּעַל שִׁכְבַת הַטָּל וְהִנֵּה עַל-פְּנֵי הַמִּדְבָּר דַּק מְחֻסְפָּס--דַּק כַּכְּפֹר עַל-הָאָרֶץ

. .

And when the layer of dew lifted, behold, upon the face of the wilderness was something fine and rounded — fine as frost upon the ground.

Shemot 16:15

וַיִּרְאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו מָן הוּא--כִּי לֹא יָדְעוּ מַה-הוּא וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֲלֵהֶם הוּא הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה לָכֶם לְאָכְלָה

. . . . . .

And the sons of Israel saw it, and said one to another: 'It is manna' — for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: 'It is the food which God has given, to be for you as food.'

Shemot 16:16

זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה לִקְטוּ מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ לְפִי אָכְלוֹ עֹמֶר לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת מִסְפַּר נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם--אִישׁ לַאֲשֶׁר בְּאָהֳלוֹ תִּקָּחוּ

. . . .

This is the matter which God has commanded: let each man gather from it according to the measure of his household — a marzab for each head, by the count of your persons; each man shall take for those in his house.

Shemot 16:17

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-כֵן בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּלְקְטוּ הַמַּרְבֶּה וְהַמַּמְעִיט

. .

And the sons of Israel did so, and gathered — some more and some less.

Shemot 16:18

וַיָּמֹדּוּ בָעֹמֶר--וְלֹא הֶעְדִּיף הַמַּרְבֶּה וְהַמַּמְעִיט לֹא הֶחְסִיר אִישׁ לְפִי-אָכְלוֹ לָקָטוּ

. .

And they measured it by the marzab, and he who had gathered more had nothing left over, and he who had gathered less lacked nothing; each man gathered according to the measure of his household.

Shemot 16:19

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֲלֵהֶם אִישׁ אַל-יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנּוּ עַד-בֹּקֶר

.

And Moses said to them: 'Let no person leave any of it until the morning.'

Shemot 16:20

וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וַיּוֹתִרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ עַד-בֹּקֶר וַיָּרֻם תּוֹלָעִים וַיִּבְאַשׁ וַיִּקְצֹף עֲלֵהֶם מֹשֶׁה

. . . .

But they did not heed Moses, and some people left of it until the morning — and it putrefied and swarmed with worms; and Moses was angered with them.

Shemot 16:21

וַיִּלְקְטוּ אֹתוֹ בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר אִישׁ כְּפִי אָכְלוֹ וְחַם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְנָמָס

.

And they would gather it each morning, every man according to the measure of his household; and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

Shemot 16:22

וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי לָקְטוּ לֶחֶם מִשְׁנֶה--שְׁנֵי הָעֹמֶר לָאֶחָד וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל-נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה וַיַּגִּידוּ לְמֹשֶׁה

. . . .

And when it was on the sixth day, they gathered food in double measure — two marzabs for each one; and all the nobles of the congregation came and informed Moses.

Shemot 16:23

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם הוּא אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה--שַׁבָּתוֹן שַׁבַּת-קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה מָחָר אֵת אֲשֶׁר-תֹּאפוּ אֵפוּ וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר-תְּבַשְּׁלוּ בַּשֵּׁלוּ וְאֵת כָּל-הָעֹדֵף הַנִּיחוּ לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת עַד-הַבֹּקֶר

. . . .

And he said to them: 'It is what God has said: a rest — it is a Sabbath consecrated to God tomorrow. What you wish to bake, bake; and what you wish to cook, cook; and what remains, leave it preserved for yourselves until the morning.'

Shemot 16:24

וַיַּנִּיחוּ אֹתוֹ עַד-הַבֹּקֶר כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מֹשֶׁה וְלֹא הִבְאִישׁ וְרִמָּה לֹא-הָיְתָה בּוֹ

. . .

And they left it until the morning, as Moses had commanded them; and it did not putrefy, and there was no worm in it.

Shemot 16:25

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אִכְלֻהוּ הַיּוֹם כִּי-שַׁבָּת הַיּוֹם לַיהוָה הַיּוֹם לֹא תִמְצָאֻהוּ בַּשָּׂדֶה

. .

And Moses said: 'Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to God; today you will not find it in the wilderness.'

Shemot 16:26

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תִּלְקְטֻהוּ וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לֹא יִהְיֶה-בּוֹ

. .

'Six days you shall gather it, and on the seventh day — it is a Sabbath; there will be none in it.'

Shemot 16:27

וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יָצְאוּ מִן-הָעָם לִלְקֹט וְלֹא מָצָאוּ

. .

And when it was on the seventh day, some people from the clan went out to gather, but they found nothing.

Shemot 16:28

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה עַד-אָנָה מֵאַנְתֶּם לִשְׁמֹר מִצְו‍ֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי

. .

And God said to Moses: 'How long have you refused to keep My commandments and My statutes?'

Shemot 16:29

רְאוּ כִּי-יְהוָה נָתַן לָכֶם הַשַּׁבָּת--עַל-כֵּן הוּא נֹתֵן לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי לֶחֶם יוֹמָיִם שְׁבוּ אִישׁ תַּחְתָּיו אַל-יֵצֵא אִישׁ מִמְּקֹמוֹ--בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי

. . . . .

'See that God has given you the statute of the Sabbath — therefore He is giving you on the sixth day food for two days. Let every person remain in his place; let no one go out from his place on the seventh day.'

Shemot 16:30

וַיִּשְׁבְּתוּ הָעָם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִעִי

And the people observed the Sabbath on the seventh day.

Shemot 16:31

וַיִּקְרְאוּ בֵית-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-שְׁמוֹ מָן וְהוּא כְּזֶרַע גַּד לָבָן וְטַעְמוֹ כְּצַפִּיחִת בִּדְבָשׁ

. .

And the house of Israel called its name the manna; and it was like the seed of coriander, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey.

Shemot 16:32

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה--מְלֹא הָעֹמֶר מִמֶּנּוּ לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ אֶת-הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר הֶאֱכַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּהוֹצִיאִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

. . . . .

And Moses said: 'This is the matter which God has commanded: a marzab-full of it shall be kept for your generations, so that they may see the food with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.'

Shemot 16:33

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-אַהֲרֹן קַח צִנְצֶנֶת אַחַת וְתֶן-שָׁמָּה מְלֹא-הָעֹמֶר מָן וְהַנַּח אֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם

. . . .

And Moses said to Aaron: 'Take one jar, and put in it a marzab-full of manna, and place it before God, preserved for their generations.'

Shemot 16:34

כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וַיַּנִּיחֵהוּ אַהֲרֹן לִפְנֵי הָעֵדֻת לְמִשְׁמָרֶת

. .

As God commanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the testimony, preserved.

Shemot 16:35

וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָכְלוּ אֶת-הַמָּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה--עַד-בֹּאָם אֶל-אֶרֶץ נוֹשָׁבֶת אֶת-הַמָּן אָכְלוּ--עַד-בֹּאָם אֶל-קְצֵה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

. . . .

And the sons of Israel ate the manna forty years — until their entry into an inhabited land; they ate it until their entry into the border of the land of Canaan.

Shemot 16:36

וְהָעֹמֶר עֲשִׂרִית הָאֵיפָה הוּא

And the marzab was a tenth of the waybah.