SPECIAL TOPIC: Manna

SPECIAL TOPIC: MANNA

It was a supernatural provision by YHWH to sustain His people during the exodus and wilderness wandering period.
It is called “the bread which the Lord has given you to eat,” Exod. 16:15b (cf. Neh. 9:15; John 6:31,49,51,53,58). The popular name, “manna” (Exod. 31:1) comes from the question about it, asked by the people in Exod. 16:15a (i.e., “What is it?” from Hebrew “man hu,” BDB 577 and BDB 214).
It came with the dew every morning (cf. Exod. 16:13,21; Num. 11:9), as the sun rose and burned off the dew (cf. Exod. 16:14), a layer of white powder remained for a brief period, then the sun burned it all away (cf. Exod. 16:21).
They were to gather it, every family, every day, enough for all in the family to have enough to eat (cf. Exod. 16:16-18), but only enough for one day at a time (cf. Exod. 16:20; i.e., YHWH wanted them to trust Him day by day). There was a special provision made to gather twice as much on Friday so that no work (i.e., gathering or cooking, cf. Exod. 16:23) would be done on the Sabbath (cf. Exod. 16:5, i.e., Friday night at twilight until Saturday night at twilight). On this special day the manna would remain edible for two days (cf. Exod. 16:22,24; i.e., this shows this was a supernatural provision).
There was also a jar of manna kept in the Ark of the Covenant that remained normal (cf. Exod. 16:33; Heb. 9:4).
Manna was a fine flake-like item, fine as the hoarfrost on the ground (cf. Exod. 16:14). It was white, like coriander seed, and tasted like wafers with honey (cf. Exod. 16:31; Num. 11:7-8). It is called "heaven's grain" (cf. Ps. 78:24; 105:40; John 6:33,50).
This special provision of YHWH’s ceased when Israel crossed the Jordan River into Canaan (cf. Josh. 5:10-12). The pillar of cloud also ceased when they crossed into Canaan.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH

SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PILLAR