« | Exodus 16 | » |
1 Then the people left Elim and came to the desert of Zin, between Elim and Sinai. They arrived at that place on the 15 day of the second month after leaving Egypt.
2 Then the whole community of Israelites began complaining again. They complained to Moses and Aaron in the desert.
3 They said, "It would have been better if the Lord had just killed us in the land of Egypt. At least there we had plenty to eat. We had all the food we needed. But now you have brought us out here into this desert to make us all die from hunger."
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will cause food to fall from the sky. This food will be for you to eat. Every day the people should go out and gather the food they need that day. I will do this to see if they will do what I tell them.
5 Every day the people will gather only enough food for one day. But on Friday, when the people prepare their food, they will see that they have enough food for two days."
6 So Moses and Aaron said to the Israelites, "Tonight you will see the power of the Lord. You will know that he is the one who brought you out of Egypt.
7 You have been complaining about the Lord, and he heard you. So tomorrow morning you will see the Glory of the Lord. You have been complaining and complaining about us. Maybe now we can have a little rest."
8 Then Moses said, "You have been complaining, and the Lord has heard your complaints. So tonight he will give you meat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you need. You have been complaining to Aaron and me. But now, maybe we will have a little rest. Remember, you are not complaining against Aaron and me. You are complaining against the Lord."
9 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole community of Israelites to come together before the Lord, because he has heard their complaints."
10 So Aaron spoke to all the Israelites. While he was talking, the people turned and looked into the desert. And they saw the Glory of the Lord appear in a cloud.
11 The Lord said to Moses,
12 "I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. So tell them, 'Tonight you will eat meat. And in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know you can trust the Lord, your God.'"
13 That night, quails (birds) came all around the camp, and in the morning dew lay on the ground near the camp.
14 After the dew was gone, something like thin flakes of frost was on the ground.
15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, "What is that?" because they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, "This is the food the Lord is giving you to eat.
16 The Lord says, 'Each of you should gather what you need, a basket of manna for everyone in your family.'"
17 So that is what the Israelites did. Some people gathered a large amount, some people gathered a little.
18 But when they measured what they had gathered, there was no shortage and there was none left over. Everyone gathered just what they needed.
19 Moses told them, "Don't save that food to eat the next day."
20 But some of the people did not obey Moses. They saved their food for the next day. But worms got into the food and it began to stink. Moses was angry with the people who did this.
21 Every morning the people gathered as much food as they could eat, but by noon the food melted and was gone.
22 On Friday the people gathered twice as much food—two baskets for every person. So all the leaders of the people came and told this to Moses.
23 Moses told them, "This is what the Lord said would happen. It happened because tomorrow is the Sabbath, the special day of rest to honor the Lord. You can cook all the food you need to cook for today, but save the rest of this food for tomorrow morning."
24 So the people saved the rest of the food for the next day, as Moses had commanded, and none of the food spoiled or had worms in it.
25 On Saturday, Moses told the people, "Today is the Sabbath, the special day of rest to honor the Lord. So none of you should be out in the fields. Eat the food you gathered yesterday.
26 You should gather the food for six days. But the seventh day of the week is a day of rest—so there will not be any of the special food on the ground."
27 On Saturday, some of the people went out to gather some of the food, but they could not find any.
28 Then the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you people refuse to obey my commands and teachings?
29 Look, the Lord has made the Sabbath a day of rest for you. So on Friday he will give you enough food for two days. Then, on the Sabbath, each of you should sit down and relax. Stay where you are."
30 So the people rested on the Sabbath.
31 The people called the special food "manna." It was like small white coriander seeds and tasted like thin cakes made with honey.
32 Moses said, "The Lord said: 'Save a basket of this food for your descendants. Then they can see the food that I gave to you in the desert when I took you out of Egypt.'"
33 So Moses told Aaron, "Take a jar and fill it with a full basket of manna. Save this manna to put before the Lord. Save it for our descendants."
34 (Aaron later did what the Lord commanded Moses. Aaron put the jar of manna in front of the Box of the Agreement. )
35 The people ate the manna for 40 years, until they came to the land of rest, that is, until they came to the edge of the land of Canaan.
36 (The measure they used for the manna was an omer. An omer was about 8 cups. )
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.