⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven^(A) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test^(B) them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice^(C) as much as they gather on the other days.”

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,^{(D) 7} and in the morning you will see the glory^(E) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling^(F) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”^{(G) 8} Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling^(H) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”^(I)

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

¹⁰ While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory^(J) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.^(K)

¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, ¹² “I have heard the grumbling^(L) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”^(M)

¹³ That evening quail^(N) came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew^(O) around the camp. ¹⁴ When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost^(P) on the ground appeared on the desert floor. ¹⁵ When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know^(Q) what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread^(R) the Lord has given you to eat.

Water From the Rock

17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin,^(A) traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim,^(B) but there was no water^(C) for the people to drink. ² So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water^(D) to drink.”^(E)

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”^(F)

³ But the people were thirsty^(G) for water there, and they grumbled^(H) against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die^(I) of thirst?”

⁴ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone^(J) me.”

⁵ The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff^(K) with which you struck the Nile,^(L) and go. ⁶ I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.^(M) Strike^(N) the rock, and water^(O) will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ And he called the place Massah^[a](P) and Meribah^[b](Q) because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

²¹ See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession^(A) of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid;^(B) do not be discouraged.”^(C)