Exodus 16:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is evident in our earlier discussion, for it is written that on the fifteenth day of the second month following their exit from Egypt, the entire community of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, voicing their longing for the comforts of Egypt. They lamented, expressing a wish that they had perished in Egypt when they enjoyed meat and bread to their fill, accusing Moses and Aaron of leading them into the wilderness to starve (Exodus 16:1-5).

Previously, the firstborn of Egypt had perished, and the Israelites were hurriedly freed, lacking even the time to prepare food. They took their dough before it could rise, stowing it away in their clothes. They departed in haste, and fear gripped both the Egyptians pursuing them and the Israelites themselves. The Egyptians believed they too would meet a similar fate unless they heeded God’s command to let Israel go. In contrast, the Israelites feared delay would provoke their enemies, putting their lives in jeopardy. Thus, they left with no concern for supplies, taking only what they could easily carry. Having consumed their provisions and pondering how to sustain themselves in the wilderness, they yearned for the foods of Egypt, neglecting the great deliverance from suffering and servitude, as if resenting the very freedom they had gained and valuing the comfort of their appetites over that cherished liberty. This troubled Moses greatly. Yet, God, in His graciousness, promised nourishment, being forbearing even towards those who had offended Him. The desire for life’s essentials is not inherently sinful, but their complaining grieved Him deeply. The Saviour has taught us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), but instead of seeking God’s provision, the people lament their release, attributing blame to the gift of their liberation, which had removed them from the pleasurable foods of their past. Thus, they murmured against the Lord, yet He, unperturbed, promised an unexpected abundance. He provided, through His unmatched power, quails in the evening and manna in the morning. As David proclaimed, He gave them the bread of heaven, the food of angels (Psalm 77:24-25). Through this test, He demonstrated His ability to provide sustenance in the wilderness, akin to how our Lord Jesus Christ performed miracles, such as feeding thousands with just five loaves, resulting in twelve baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:13-20 and parallels). The method of these miracles surpasses human understanding, inviting us to accept these truths through faith. All who are awed by Him should declare, I know that Thou canst do all things, and that Thy purpose cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). Interpretations on chapter 16 point to John 6:33.

This path then moves past Sarabit-el-Kaddim, a site where Egyptian copper mines were established, along with a military outpost of Egyptians.

It is necessary to mention that experts have debated which peak in Sinai should be identified as the one where Moses ascended to witness the splendor of God. While many have pointed to the southern peak designated as Jebel Muse, recent surveys indicate that only the northern section of the Sinai range, particularly the summit of Raz-Sufsafeh, meets the Biblical criteria. This is because it is situated before a vast plain that divides into two broad ravines (Er-Raha and Wadi ed-Deir), providing ample space for the entire Israelite encampment while allowing visibility of the sacred mountain from multiple vantage points.

Returning to the path taken by the Israelites, it seems reasonable to conclude they chose the northern route through the expansive desert gorge of Debbet-er-Ramleh, which offers a more direct and accessible passage to Sinai than the Wadi Feiran route. However, the established colony in the mines likely housed no more than a thousand individuals, who would have been unable to withstand the overwhelming numbers of the Israelites. It is probable that they fled to other settlements in the surrounding copper mines rather than confront the approaching multitude. While the Wadi Feiran route would have been the easiest access point to the southern peak, Jabal Muz, it is evident from the landscape that it cannot be viewed as the holy mountain from where the law was proclaimed. It is crucial to differentiate between the wilderness of Sin and the wilderness of Sinai (see Numbers 33:12-16). The latter lies adjacent to the sacred mountain, whereas the desert of Sin, currently identified as Debbet-er-Ramleh, stretches almost entirely across the width of the Sinai Peninsula, nestled between the limestone escarpment of Ti and the granite ridges of the Sinai mountains.