16Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt.H5265H362H5712H1121H3478H935H4057H5512H362H5514H2568H6240H3117H8145H2320H3318H776H47142There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.H5712H1121H3478H3885H4872H175H40573"If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt," they moaned. "There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death."H1121H3478H559H4310H5414H4191H3027H3068H776H4714H3427H1320H5518H398H3899H7648H3318H4057H4191H6951H74584Then the LORD said to Moses, "Look, I'm going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.H559H3068H4872H4305H3899H8064H5971H3318H3950H1697H3117H3117H5254H3212H84515On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual."H8345H3117H3559H834H935H4932H3950H3117H31176So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "By evening you will realize it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt.H4872H175H559H1121H3478H6153H3045H3068H3318H776H47147In the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?"H1242H7200H3519H3068H8085H8519H3068H5168H3885H38858Then Moses added, "The LORD will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the LORD, not against us."H4872H559H3068H5414H6153H1320H398H1242H3899H7646H3068H8085H8519H3885H5168H8519H30689Then Moses said to Aaron, "Announce this to the entire community of Israel: 'Present yourselves before the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'"H4872H559H175H559H5712H1121H3478H7126H6440H3068H8085H851910And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the LORD in the cloud.H175H1696H5712H1121H3478H6437H4057H3519H3068H7200H605111Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H55912"I have heard the Israelites' complaints. Now tell them, 'In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"H8085H8519H1121H3478H1696H559H996H6153H398H1320H1242H7646H3899H3045H3068H43013That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew.H6153H7958H5927H3680H4264H1242H2919H7902H5439H426414When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.H2919H7902H5927H6440H4057H1851H2636H1851H3713H77615The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. "What is it?" they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, "It is the food the LORD has given you to eat.H1121H3478H7200H559H376H251H4478H3045H4872H559H3899H3068H5414H40216These are the LORD's instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent."H1697H834H3068H6680H3950H376H6310H400H6016H1538H4557H5315H3947H376H16817So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little.H1121H3478H6213H3950H7235H459118But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.H4058H6016H7235H5736H4591H2637H3950H376H6310H40019Then Moses told them, "Do not keep any of it until morning."H4872H559H376H3498H124220But some of them didn't listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.H8085H4872H582H3498H1242H7311H8438H887H4872H710721After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.H3950H1242H376H6310H400H8121H2552H454922On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation.H8345H3117H3950H4932H3899H8147H6016H259H5387H5712H935H5046H487223He told them, "This is what the LORD commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the LORD. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow."H559H3068H1696H4279H7677H6944H7676H3068H644H644H1310H1310H3605H5736H3240H4931H124224So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor.H3240H1242H4872H6680H887H741525Moses said, "Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the LORD. There will be no food on the ground today.H4872H559H398H3117H3117H7676H3068H3117H4672H770426You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day."H8337H3117H3950H7637H3117H767627Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food.H3318H5971H7637H3117H3950H467228The LORD asked Moses, "How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?H3068H559H4872H3985H8104H4687H845129They must realize that the Sabbath is the LORD's gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day."H7200H3068H5414H7676H5414H8345H3117H3899H3117H3427H376H376H3318H4725H7637H311730So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day.H5971H7673H7637H311731The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.H1004H3478H7121H8034H4478H1407H2233H3836H2940H6838H170632Then Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: Fill a two-quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when I set you free from Egypt."H4872H559H1697H3068H6680H4393H6016H4931H1755H7200H3899H398H4057H3318H776H471433Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the LORD to preserve it for all future generations."H4872H559H175H3947H259H6803H5414H6016H4393H4478H3240H6440H3068H4931H175534Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.H3068H6680H4872H175H3240H6440H5715H493135So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.H1121H3478H398H4478H705H8141H935H776H3427H398H4478H935H7097H776H366736The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which was one tenth of an ephah; it held about two quarts.H6016H6224H374
Water from the Rock
17At the LORD's command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.H5712H1121H3478H5265H4057H5512H4550H6310H3068H2583H7508H4325H5971H83542So once more the people complained against Moses. "Give us water to drink!" they demanded. "Quiet!" Moses replied. "Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?"H5971H7378H4872H559H5414H4325H8354H4872H559H7378H5254H30683But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. "Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"H5971H6770H4325H5971H3885H4872H559H5927H4714H4191H1121H4735H67724Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!"H4872H6817H3068H559H6213H5971H4592H56195The LORD said to Moses, "Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you.H3068H559H4872H5674H6440H5971H3947H2205H3478H4294H5221H2975H3947H3027H19806I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.H5975H6440H6697H2722H5221H6697H3318H4325H5971H8354H4872H6213H5869H2205H34787Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and Meribah (which means "arguing") because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, "Is the LORD here with us or not?"H7121H8034H4725H4532H4809H7379H1121H3478H5254H3068H559H3426H3068H7130
Israel Defeats the Amalekites
8While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.H935H6002H3898H3478H75089Moses commanded Joshua, "Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand."H4872H559H3091H977H582H3318H3898H6002H4279H5324H7218H1389H4294H430H302710So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill.H3091H6213H4872H559H3898H6002H4872H175H2354H5927H7218H138911As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.H4872H7311H3027H3478H1396H5117H3027H6002H139612Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.H4872H3027H3515H3947H68H7760H3427H175H2354H8551H3027H259H259H3027H530H935H812113As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.H3091H2522H6002H5971H6310H271914After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, "Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven."H3068H559H4872H3789H2146H5612H7760H241H3091H4229H4229H2143H6002H806415Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means "the LORD is my banner").H4872H1129H4196H7121H8034H307116He said, "They have raised their fist against the LORD's throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation."H559H3050H3027H3676H3068H4421H6002H1755H1755
Jethro’s Visit to Moses
18Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt.H3503H3548H4080H4872H2859H8085H430H6213H4872H3478H5971H3068H3318H3478H47142Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in.H3503H4872H2859H3947H6855H4872H802H310H79643(Moses' first son was named Gershom, for Moses had said when the boy was born, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."H8147H1121H8034H259H1647H559H1616H5237H7764His second son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, "The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.")H8034H259H461H430H1H5828H5337H2719H65475Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses' wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God.H3503H4872H2859H935H1121H802H4872H4057H2583H2022H4306Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons."H559H4872H2859H3503H935H802H8147H11217So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other's welfare and then went into Moses' tent.H4872H3318H7125H2859H7812H5401H7592H376H7453H7965H935H1688Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles.H4872H5608H2859H3068H6213H6547H4714H3478H182H8513H4672H1870H3068H53379Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.H3503H2302H2896H3068H6213H3478H5337H3027H471410"Praise the LORD," Jethro said, "for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt!H3503H559H1288H3068H5337H3027H4714H3027H6547H5337H5971H3027H471411I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians."H3045H3068H1419H430H1697H210212Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God's presence.H3503H4872H2859H3947H5930H2077H430H175H935H2205H3478H398H3899H4872H2859H6440H430
Jethro’s Wise Advice
13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.H4283H4872H3427H8199H5971H5971H5975H4872H1242H615314When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?"H4872H2859H7200H6213H5971H559H1697H6213H5971H3427H5971H5324H1242H615315Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God.H4872H559H2859H5971H935H1875H43016When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God's decrees and give them his instructions."H1697H935H8199H376H7453H3045H2706H430H845117"This is not good!" Moses' father-in-law exclaimed.H4872H2859H559H1697H6213H289618"You're going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.H5034H5034H5971H1697H3515H3201H621319Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.H8085H6963H3289H430H1961H5971H4136H430H935H1697H43020Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.H2094H853H2706H8451H3045H1870H3212H4639H621321But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.H2372H5971H2428H582H3373H430H582H571H8130H1215H7760H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H623522They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.H8199H5971H6256H1419H1697H935H6996H1697H8199H7043H537523If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."H6213H1697H430H6680H3201H5975H5971H935H4725H796524Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions.H4872H8085H6963H2859H6213H55925He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.H4872H977H2428H582H3478H5414H7218H5971H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H623526These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.H8199H5971H6256H7186H1697H935H4872H6996H1697H1992H819927Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.H4872H2859H7971H3212H776
22[For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Doe of the Dawn."] My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?H5329H365H7837H4210H1732H410H410H5800H7350H3444H1697H75812Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.H430H7121H3119H6030H3915H17473Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.H6918H3427H8416H34784Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.H1H982H982H64035They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.H2199H4422H982H9546But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!H8438H376H2781H120H959H59717Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying,H7200H3932H6358H8193H5128H72188"Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!"H1556H3068H6403H5337H26549Yet you brought me safely from my mother's womb and led me to trust you at my mother's breast.H1518H990H982H517H769910I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.H7993H7358H410H517H99011Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.H7368H6869H7138H582612My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!H7227H6499H5437H47H1316H380313Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.H6475H6310H2963H7580H73814My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.H8210H4325H6106H6504H3820H1749H4549H8432H457815My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.H3581H3001H2789H3956H1692H4455H8239H6083H419416My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.H3611H5437H5712H7489H5362H3738H738H3027H727217I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat.H5608H6106H5027H720018They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.H2505H899H5307H1486H383019O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!H7368H3068H360H2363H583320Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.H5337H5315H2719H3173H3027H361121Snatch me from the lion's jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.H3467H738H6310H6030H7161H721422I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.H5608H8034H251H8432H6951H198423Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!H3373H3068H1984H2233H3290H3513H1481H2233H347824For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.H959H8262H6039H6041H5641H6440H7768H808525I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.H8416H7227H6951H7999H5088H337326The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.H6035H398H7646H1984H3068H1875H3824H2421H570327The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.H657H776H2142H7725H3068H4940H1471H7812H644028For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.H4410H3068H4910H147129Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust.H1879H776H398H7812H3381H6083H3766H6440H2421H531530Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.H2233H5647H5608H136H175531His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.H935H5046H6666H5971H3205H6213
Dublin, OH
, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt.H5265
