Sin, after they had encamped on the Red Sea, Numbers xxxiii. 10. The 33d station was also in the desert of Sin, or Cades. But that is far remote from this desert, Numbers xx. 1. (Calmet) --- _Month of May, Jiar. Their provisions lasted a whole month. On their failure, they presently have recourse to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Over, greedily feasting on the most nutritive meats. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prove. Show by experience. Therefore he orders the Hebrews to gather manna only for one day, except on Friday. Many suppose that this bread of angels began to fall on Sunday, (ver. 22; Origen, hom. 7.) or on Friday. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Provide. Hence, this day was called Parasceve, or the day of preparation._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Morning, when manna fell, as quails were brought the former evening, ver. 12 and 13. These fresh instances of protection might, convince them that they had not been imposed upon by Moses in leaving Egypt. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord. All rebellion against lawful authority is resented by God. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before, to the place appointed for public worship, chap. xxxii. 7. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say. Similar promises are often repeated, to appease the seditious mob. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Quails. All the Oriental languages express these birds by solaem, though some have asserted, that pheasants or locusts are here meant. Josephus (Antiquities iii. 1) informs us, that great flocks of quails are found about the gulf of Arabia. They return to Europe from the warmer regions, about the b... [ Continue Reading ]
Manhu. St. Jerome adds the explanation, (Du Hamel) which is almost universally adopted, though some pretend that man, even in Chaldean, means who, and not what? Calmet refers them to Psalm lx. 7, for a proof of the contrary. Manna is found in various parts of the world, the best in Arabia. But this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eat. Each one's provision was just enough to fill a gomor; (Menochius) or those who had collected more, gave to those who wanted, 2 Corinthians viii. 15. Any one might take less. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Putrified. So God was pleased to punish their diffidence in Providence. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Morning. Wisdom xvi. 28, we find the reason of this ordinance, which enforces diligence, and was a constant admonition to bless God without delay. (Haydock) --- It melted, that it might not be trodden under foot by the profane. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Told Moses, wishing to know why God had given this injunction._... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Place. Onkelos allows a person to travel 2000 cubits on the sabbath. Some heretics understand this literally, and would not alter the posture in which they were found by the festival. (Origen, Philos. 1.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Manna. This miraculous food, with which the children of Israel were nourished and supported during their sojourning in the wilderness, was a figure of the bread of life, which we receive in the blessed sacrament, for the food and nourishment of our souls, during the time of our mortal pilgrimage, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_A vessel, "a golden urn," as the Septuagint and St. Paul (Hebrews ix. 4,) express it. This was placed in the tabernacle, where the Hebrews met to pray, till the ark was made. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Land. Manna was withdrawn as soon as usual food could be easily procured. (Haydock) --- In this desert of the world, we are supported by the sacraments. As manna fell in the night, so the mysteries of faith are concealed from the curious researches of men. It melted with the sunbeams; so mysteries... [ Continue Reading ]