Exodus 16:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You have chosen to fill the abundance of this heavenly sustenance into the vessels of our generations (Exod. 16:32). This signifies a divine intention to provide a certain portion of the sacred Scriptures infused with Your Word. Just as from Your holy hands, a few loaves of bread were able to feed thousands, without diminishing the supply, but rather increasing it; likewise, through a few Divine Books, countless individuals may be instructed, while the mysteries and revelations of Your profound wisdom are not depleted, but instead become ever more plentiful.

In recounting the story of the manna, Moses naturally incorporates elements that occurred at a later time. The preservation of the manna, its placement in front of the 'ark of the covenant,' which contains the tablets of the law, and the provision of manna to the Israelites for forty years are later developments. However, these details were included in this section of the Chronicle at the conclusion of Moses' life, during the time when the esteemed leader was reviewing and finalizing his writings.