Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Things. Septuagint “therefore by similar things they,” and so forth Bible.—The Egyptians were punished for their idolatry by beasts, though they worshipped them, ( Bible.) being infested with insects, frogs, locusts, and so forth (Calmet. 12:23. Exodus 8 and 10. Calmet.) and seeing their first-born perish for their cruelty. Worthington.
Verse 2. Meat. The second time, God gave them in his anger: but still he dealt favourably with his people, (Exodus 16:13. Numbers 11:7. Calmet.) punishing them as a father, for their amendment. Worthington.
Verse 3. They indeed desiring food, and so forth He means the Egyptians; who were restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats. Challoner.—Exodus 8:3. Calmet.—These. The Israelites. Challoner.—New meat. Quails. Menochius.
Verse 6. Sign of salvation. The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our Saviour; ( Challoner.) and of the obedience which they should shew to God’s commands. Calmet.—The sign could have no inherent value; but, as a token of God’s favour, was the means of curing the people. Worthington.
Verse 12. Plaster, malagma. The remedy ordained by God was not naturally efficacious. Calmet.—“Every wound of the soul has its medicine in the Scriptures.” Saint Augustine Psalm xxxvi.
Verse 17. The fire had more force. that is When the fire and hail mingled together laid waste the land of Egypt. Exodus 9. Challoner.—This destroyed the useful cattle, but not such as infested the Egyptians. Worthington.—The water seemed to nourish the flames. 3 Kennicott. 18:39.
Verse 18. Mitigated. The Egyptians could not banish the insects with fire and smoke, (Jans.) or the storm sent by God, did not exterminate the sciniphs, which had caused the magicians to acknowledge a miracle. Exodus 8:18. The frogs and flies were already gone. Ib. 11 and 31. Calmet.
Verse 20. Angels. See Exodus 16. Worthington.—If angels stood in need of food, they could have nothing more delicious. So water is styled honey, to denote its excellence. Psalms 77:25. Leviticus 20:24. Joel 3:18.—Taste. These expressions are figurative. Calmet.
Verse 21. Sustenance. Lit. “substance,” which some explain ( Calmet.) of God himself preparing this delicious food. Naz. or. xlix.—Liked. So that if a person wished to eat an egg, and so forth the manna became one, without altering its appearance, which is the case in the blessed Eucharist. Valentia, 4 disp. 6. and so forth—But this opinion supposes a continued miracle, which seems not necessary, and it is generally believed that the taste alone was changed, which Saint Augustine and others restrain to God’s faithful servants, otherwise the Hebrews could not have been disgusted with manna. Numbers 11:6 and 21:5. To these it was therefore simply manna. But the others found in it whatever they could desire. Saint Gregory Mor. vi. 9.—Yet according to others, ( Bible.) both enjoyed the same privilege. Menochius.—We cannot account for men’s fancies.
Verse 26. Word. Deuteronomy 8:3. Matthew 4:4. Fruits, of themselves, could not support man. Calmet.
Verse 28. Light. Those who desire to receive any favour must seek it with diligence, as the manna was to be gathered before sun-rise. Clarius. Calmet.
Verse 29. Water. The ungrateful and negligent shall find their hopes frustrated, ( Calmet.) as well as the wicked, who expect salvation ( Worthington.) without a change of manners. Bible.—Ingratitude stops the fountain of grace. Menochius.