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What does the Bible Document?
What does the Bible Imply?
Many interesting views have been proposed, but it is important to pay
close attention to what Scripture actually states and what it subtly
implies.
A critical aspect, which many overlook, is the initial request presented
to Pharaoh - that he allow the children of Israel to go three days into
the wilderness. Since the God of the Hebrews had met with them and was
requiring a sacrificial feast to Him.
THREE DAYS INTO THE WILDERNESS
For a biblically honest discussion, the meaning of these three verses
should be initially highlighted and discussed.
Exod 3:18 ... 'The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us;
and now, please, let us go three days journey into
the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord
our God.'
5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh,
"Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Let My people go,
that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"
5:3 "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please,
let us go three days journey into the desert and
sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us
with pestilence or with the sword."
After travelling three days into the wilderness they were to offer
sacrifice to the Lord their God.
God usually has significant events timed to occur in keeping with the
observance days and feasts listed in Leviticus chapter 23.
We are all aware that the children of Israel departed Egypt around
the time of 'Passover' and the 'Feast of Unleavened Bread'.
So upon what day was the aforementioned sacrificial offering in the
wilderness intended to fall?
Numbers chapter 33 gives us a brief outline of the Exodus journey.
It informs us the children of Israel started to depart Rameses on the
15th day of the first month.
They left in the morning while the Egyptians were burying their dead.
Num 33:3 They departed from Rameses in the first month,
on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the
day after the Passover the children of Israel
went out with boldness in the sight of all the
Egyptians.
:4 For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn,
whom the Lord had killed among them. ...
We are then told where they camped.
Num 33:5 Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses
and camped at Succoth.
:6 They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham,
which is on the edge of the wilderness.
:7 They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi
Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and
they camped near Migdol.
:8 They departed from before Hahiroth and passed
through the midst of the sea into the wilderness,
went three days journey in the Wilderness of
Etham, and camped at Marah.
So they camped at Succoth, then Etham, then back tracked and camped
near Migdol.
They then crossed the Red Sea and journeyed the three days into the
wilderness of Etham.
Hence, the minimum we have is a two day journey through the populated
land of Egypt to the edge of the wilderness. Then a one day journey,
which initially backtracks and then proceeds to the Red Sea coastline.
This is then immediately followed by a Red Sea crossing at night.
At daylight we have the start of the requested three day journey into
the wilderness.
So starting with the 15th day of the first month we have a total of
6 days to reach the site where they were to offer sacrifices to God.
However, there is another point we have to take into consideration.
While they departed the city of Rameses on the 15th day, they had
actually started their journeying on the 14th day. As on the 14th
they had travelled from the land of Goshen (where they lived) to the
city of Rameses.
So, in summary, they took one day to reach the city of Rameses and
a further six days to reach the location where they were to offer
sacrifices to God.
Therefore they were travelling 7 days - 14th to 20th inclusive.
Under the Old Covenant Law the commemoration of the Exodus journey
required the children of Israel to eat only unleavened bread. This
applied to the 7 days of the 15th to the 21st inclusive.
(Refer the verse Lev 23:6 cited below.)
So what this means is that on the first day of their journey, the
travel from Goshen to the city of Rameses on the 14th, they could
eat their normal leavened bread (bread prepared on the 13th).
[NB: However, keep in mind, that the Law for the evening
14th Passover celebration requires the consumption of
only unleavened bread. ]
Over the next six days, 15th to 20th, the children of Israel were
travelling and eating only unleavened bread.
[NB: During this time ongoing travel prevented them from
leavening their bread. ]
On the 21st day they were not travelling, but offering sacrifices.
However, as they had travelled the prior day, only unleavened
was available.
[NB: It took a while for bread to naturally leaven, so while
they were not travelling on the 21st day, they were still
without leavened bread until the morning of the 22nd day. ]
Notice that in the first stage of their journeying (14th to 20th)
the Israelites were travelling every single day. We know this
because they ate unleavened bread 15th to 21st.
[NB: A one day delay between the start of the journeying
and the start of the period of eating unleavened bread.
A one day delay between the end of their journeying
and the end of their consumption of unleavened bread. ]
Their initial exodus journey can be illustrated as follows.
Day of Location 7 Days Spent 7 Days Eating
Month at night Travelling Unleavened
Bread
|--------| Goshen |-------|
| | |
| 14th | 1 |
| | |
|--------| Rameses |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 15th | 2 | | 1 |
| | | | |
|--------| Succoth |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 16th | 3 | | 2 |
| | | | |
|--------| Etham |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 17th | 4 | | 3 |
| | | | |
|--------| Red Sea crossing |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 18th | 5 | | 4 |
| | | | |
|--------| Wilderness end day 1 |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 19th | 6 | | 5 |
| | | | |
|--------| Wilderness end day 2 |-------| |-------|
| | | | |
| 20th | 7 | | 6 |
| | | | |
|--------| Marah |-------| |-------|
| | |
| 21st | 7 |
| | |
|--------| still at Marah |-------|
When the Old Covenant requirements were fully defined the 21st day,
the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was to be regularly
observed as a sacred assembly.
Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the
Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days
you must eat unleavened bread.
:8 ... The seventh day shall be a holy convocation;
you shall do no customary work on it.
Deut 16:8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on
the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly
to the Lord your God. You shall do no work on it.
So after crossing the Red Sea the children of Israel went three days
into the wilderness and then on the fourth day had a feast and offered
sacrifices to God.
So at the location, which was 3 days journey into the wilderness, they
found themselves at a place called Marah.
Num 33:8 They departed ... and passed through the midst of
the sea into the wilderness, went three days journey
in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah.
At Marah bitter waters were healed by casting in a tree.
Also at Marah God established a statute and an ordinance.
God tested them there.
[NB: Refer Josh 5:2. At Gilgal they were circumcised the
second time.
Therefore, there had been an earlier time when the
children of Israel were first circumcised. ]
Therefore, it was at Marah that the feast to God was held. It was held
on the 21st day of that month. It was a feast held immediately after
seven days of travelling (from Goshen) and it was held on the 7th day
of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
TRAVEL TO MT SINAI
From Marah they travelled to Elim and then camped near the Red Sea.
Num 33:9 They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim
were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees;
so they camped there.
:10 They moved from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
How are we to consider this subsequent reference to the Red Sea?
It really depends on where one considers Mt Sinai is located.
If one places weight upon the following verse then one would see the need
for the children of Israel to be travelling toward Arabia.
Gal 4:25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, ...
With such a viewpoint a reference to camping near the Red Sea would
indicate that the children of Israel had crossed the Sinai Peninsula!
The following is the remaining portion of the journey to Mt Sinai.
Num 33:11 They moved from the Red Sea and camped in the
Wilderness of Sin.
:12 They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and
camped at Dophkah.
:13 They departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
:14 They moved from Alush and camped at Rephidim,
where there was no water for the people to drink.
:15 They departed from Rephidim and camped in the
Wilderness of Sinai.
Something that needs to be built into the final arrangement is the
reference to the location of the Wilderness of Sin. It was half way
between Elim and Sinai.
Exod 16:1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the
congregation of the children of Israel came
to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between
Elim and Sinai, ...
[NB: 1) They arrived at Elim after leaving Marah.
2) Naturally we do not expect many named
places during their wandering through
uninhabited wilderness. ]
We should also notice that the Split Rock is located in Horeb, near
Mt Sinai.
Exod 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the
rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock,
and water will come out of it, that the people
may drink.
The following outlines their journey, from after the crossing of the
Red Sea (in the first month) to when they reached Mt Sinai (in the
third month).
JOURNEY TO MT SINAI
LOCATION KEY ASPECTS DATE
Red Sea cross overnight after 17th
daylight
Marah bitter waters arrive 20th
(Wilderness tree cast in 1st month
of Shur) a statute (Feast 21st)
an ordinance
Elim 12 wells -
70 palm trees
by the Red Sea - -
Wilderness of Sin Manna 15th 2nd month
(between Elim Quail
and Sinai) Sabbath
Dophkah - -
Alush - -
Rephidim no water -
(In Horeb) Split Rock
Amalek
Wilderness of Sinai Where subsequently Feast of Weeks
was declared the (3rd month)
10 Commandments
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POSSIBLE EXODUS ROUTE
The information provided seems to suggest an exodus journey along the lines
of what is shown below.
- Succoth in Egypt
- Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
- Backtracking after Etham (Num 33:7 and Exod 14:2-3),
indicating to Pharaoh that the wilderness had 'closed in'
the children of Israel.
- Marah, 3 days directly into the wilderness.
- Elim, 12 wells and 70 palms (journeying toward Arabia).
- By the Red Sea.
- Wilderness of Sin, half way between Elim and Mt Sinai.
- Rephidim very close to Mt Sinai.
RE:- MAP OF THE EXODUS
1) The exact location of many of these cities and places is unknown
or greatly disputed. The locations shown are being advanced as
indicative. (The purpose is to give the reader a good overview
of their journey.)
2) The dates shown are those stated or implied by Scripture.
These dates are being advanced as completely accurate.
3) When Israel crossed over the Red Sea at night they crossed
over the border of Egypt. They left the territory of Egypt.
The Deut 16:1 text, "the Lord your God brought you out of
Egypt by night" refers to the crossing of the Red Sea!
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WILDERNESS OF SINAI
Exodus 16:1 advises that the children of Israel arrived at the Wilderness
of Sin on the 15th day of the second month.
Exod 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all
the congregation of the children of Israel came
unto the Wilderness of Sin, ... on the fifteenth
day of the second month after their departing
out of the land of Egypt.
At this stage of their journey the children of Israel were relatively
close to Mt Sinai.
In order to feed the people and to reintroduce the weekly Sabbath God
provided quail and manna. Indicating they were to collect twice as much
manna the sixth day and not look for it on the seventh.
REPHIDIM - THE SPLIT ROCK
There was a lack of water at Rephidim, which set the scene for the
Split Rock event.
Exod 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in
Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will
come out of it, that the people may drink.
Obviously a substantial rock was involved. A sizable
quantity of water would have been needed. Ideally
this released water would have formed a large
easily accessible pool.
It has to be remembered that the children of
Israel represented a sizable number of people. |
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Also, at this location the people of Amalek fought with Israel.
(The Amalek nation was descended from Timna, the concubine of Esau's
son Eliphaz. Gen 36:12.)
Exod 17:13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with
the edge of the sword.
:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for
a memorial in the book and recount it in the
hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot
out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven."
ARRIVAL AT SINAI - 'third month'
The arrival of the children of Israel at Sinai.
Exod 19:1 In the third month after the children of Israel
had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day,
they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
:2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the
Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness.
So Israel camped there before the mountain.
The third month brings us to another observance day.
Specifically, 'the Feast of Weeks' mentioned in Leviticus 23:15-21.
This was a feast which was observed after the counting of seven
Sabbaths. It was observed early in the third month.
In Exodus 19:1 above, the comment "on the same day" has confused many.
There has been much uncertainty over what this expression was actually
advising.
Several perspectives are possible;
3rd day of the Month
A simple explanation would be to say that "on the same day", simply
meant on the third day (picking up the number '3' from the number of
the month). Such a timing would allow God to come down on Mt Sinai,
three days later (Exod 19:10-11), on the 6th day. On what could be
the day of the 'Feast of Weeks'.
Unfortunately, expressions like "on the same day" tend to indicate
timings of importance. Suggesting the day of arrival itself needs
to be correlated with the timing of some other significant event.
The day of arrival has to be significant.
15th day of the Month
It has been proposed that the previously mentioned date of the 15th
could be what is being indicated. The 15th is mentioned in the first
month (being the date of departure from Rameses) and it is again
mentioned in the second month (being the date of their arrival at the
wilderness of Sin).
However, such a date would be too late in the third month to enable
any connection to the Feast of Weeks.
1st day of the Month
A more unusual explanation is sometimes advanced. The Hebrew for the
word translated 'month' may actually be referring to 'New Moon'.
Therefore, this could be advising they arrived at Sinai at the time
of the third 'New Moon'. So for those following the 'common' Jewish
perspective, this view would be suggesting they arrived on the first
day of the third month.
On the Feast of Weeks
This also picks up on the notion that the word 'month' in this verse
should be translated 'New Moon'.
However, it understands 'New Moon' not to be the literal new moon,
but rather the third annual commanded rest day. That is to say, the
verse is stating the children of Israel arrived on the day of the
'Feast of Weeks' itself.
[NB: As the day of the Feast of Weeks is a commanded rest day,
it is likely the distance travelled to Mt Sinai (from
Rephidim) was relatively short. A distance within the
scope of a Sabbath's day journey. Rephidim and Mt Sinai
were indeed very close to each other.]
OBSERVANCES DURING THE EXODUS
The rotation of the weekly Sabbath can be determined from Exodus chapter
16.
[NB: They travelled to the 'Wilderness of Sin' on the 15th day.
After the passing of this 15th day and a further 5 days,
the Sabbath fell on the following 21st day.
(Normally a week would start with 6 days of manna, but
on this occasion they travelled to the Wilderness of Sin
on the first day, so no manna was provided on that first
day. However, there was still the provision of quail at
the evening of the 15th day. ) ]
So using a fixed 30 day month and overlaying a template of what became
the Old Covenant commanded observances, we have the following.
OBSERVANCE OVERVIEW
(First to Third Month)
DAY TIMING/ACTIVITY EVENT
After 13th daylight - Lamb Passover meal
14th Day travelled to Rameses - Passover day
- Remove Leaven
After 14th daylight - Pharaoh tells Israel
to leave
- a Great Celebration
(became the formal
'Passover' service.)
15th Day travelled Rameses to Succoth - 1st day of U/L Bread
16th Day travelled Succoth to Etham - Weekly Sabbath
17th Day travelled Etham to near Migdol - 1st of 50 days counting
to Feast of Weeks
Night - crossed the Red Sea - 'Watch' observance
21st Sacrifices at Marah - 7th day of U/L Bread
23rd - Weekly Sabbath
30th - Weekly Sabbath
7th - Weekly Sabbath
14th - Weekly Sabbath
15th Day travelled to Wilderness of Sin
21st - Weekly Sabbath
28th - Weekly Sabbath
5th - Weekly Sabbath
6th Arrival at Mt Sinai - Feast of Weeks
50th day of count
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Notice, God treated Israel as an 'ox in the ditch'. Despite the 15th and
16th (of the first month) being rest days, He still had the children of
Israel travel toward the border of Egypt.
Also, what many have failed to discern, is that the lamb Passover and
the formal Passover were separate events!
SUNDRY - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Many details have to be fully discussed before one can fully grasp the
various issues that exist in respect to Israel's exodus journey.
THE LAMB PASSOVER - TRAVEL FROM GOSHEN
At the time of the Exodus the children of Israel lived in the land of
Goshen, which was located in the territory of Rameses.
Exod 9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children
of Israel were, there was no hail.
Gen 47:11 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers,
and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt,
in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses,
as Pharaoh had commanded.
We all know the account of Exodus chapter 12 and how a chosen lamb was
slaughtered, its blood placed around the doorway and the meat of the
lamb fully consumed that night, Exod 12:10. This took place in their
homes in the land of Goshen.
For this occasion they were to be dressed for travel.
Exod 12:11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on
your waist, your sandals on your feet, and
your staff in your hand.
This observance took place on the first half of the night, from
sunset to midnight. This being period of night which followed the
daylight period of the 13th day.
After the lamb Passover observance, ending at midnight, they slept
and arose the next morning ready for travel. They burnt the edible
remains of the lamb. Then the children of Israel left their homes
in Goshen and journeyed to the city of Rameses where they camped
outside the city.
An important point is that while Pharaoh called for Moses at night
(after the death of the Egyptian firstborn) Moses did not immediately
travel and visit Pharaoh.
Exod 12:31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, ...
*** Note what had previously been agreed. ***
Exod 10:28 Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me!
Take heed to yourself and see my face no more!
For in the day you see my face you shall die!"
:29 So Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will
never see your face again."
Moses did not go personally to Pharaoh after Pharaoh called for him.
Rather, following the tenth plague Moses caused all the children of
Israel to camp outside the city of Rameses.
CAMPED OUTSIDE RAMESES CITY
It was while they were camped near the city of Rameses, at sunset,
that the formal notification came from Pharaoh.
Exod 12:31 ... "Rise, go out from among my people, both
you and the children of Israel. And go, serve
the Lord as you have said.
:32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you
have said, and be gone; and bless me also."
We know this is what happened because God established a formal
gathering and celebration which was observed at sunset following
the daylight of the 14th day. This formal gathering was also named
'Passover'!
Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations
which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.
:5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight
(between the evenings) is the LORD's Passover.
Deut 16:2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover
to the LORD your God, from the flock and
the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses
to place His name.
:6 ... there you shall sacrifice the Passover
at twilight (evening), at the going down of
the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt.
[ NB: This reference to their departure from
Egypt at 'twilight' is a reference to the
time of day when they would later cross
the Red Sea. ]
NB: There has been a great deal of confusion present in Judaism
(and also in Christianity) when it comes to the nature and timing
of Passover services. Despite many attempts, this has never been
adequately resolved by these faiths and the reason is that they
have failed to properly study the question of when the biblical
day ended.
They have simply thought; "a day ends at 'evening', and as sunset
is called 'evening', so a day ends at sunset". And even though
they were often aware there was another time called 'evening',
they have not given enough consideration as to its timing or
whether this other 'evening' was the time which actually ended
the biblical day.
These webpages discuss these topics more fully.
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| When the Biblical Day Ends - Not Sunset |
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and
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| PASSOVER = Two Passovers, 13th and 14th! |
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TRAVEL TO THE RED SEA
From the city of Rameses the entire journey to the Red Sea took only
three days. During all this time they were travelling within the borders
of Egypt.
First day - Rameses city to Succoth,
Second day - Succoth to Etham.
Third day - Backtrack from Etham, turning back toward Pi Hahiroth.
Finally camped near Migdol.
(Where it seemed as though they were trapped
against the Red Sea.)
As soon as news comes to Pharaoh that they have turned back, Pharaoh
perceived weakness and sent his chariots after them.
Exod 14:3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel,
'They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness
has closed them in.'
:7 Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and
all the chariots of Egypt with captains over
every one of them.
There are many proposed exodus routes which place the Red Sea crossing
far from the city of Rameses. Biblically such views appear to be
completely unsupportable.
Such views are often adopted because of some preference for this or that
distant Red Sea crossing point.
RED SEA CROSSING -
THE 'WATCH' OR 'VIGIL' OBSERVANCE
God parts the waters and at sunset Israel starts to cross the Red Sea
on dry ground.
The Egyptian chariots follow, but about midnight God starts to trouble
the chasing Egyptians.
Exod 14:24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch,
that the Lord looked down upon the army of
the Egyptians through the pillar of fire
and cloud, and He troubled the army of the
Egyptians.
:25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so
that they drove them with difficulty; and
the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the
face of Israel, for the Lord fights for
them against the Egyptians."
God then caused the waters to return to their full depth.
Exod 14:27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the
sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea
returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians
were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the
Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
The Red Sea crossing was an important event in the Exodus narrative.
In addition it occurred at a very important timing.
For this reason it was to be commemorated by the children of Israel!
Exod 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred
and thirty years - on that very same day - it came
to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out
from the land of Egypt.
:42 It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for
bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that
night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the
children of Israel throughout their generations.
The Hebrew word for 'solemn observance' is  . A Hebrew word used
twice in verse 42.
Adding different Hebrew vowels generates several Hebrew words. (Remember
the received Hebrew does not have vowels.) In such cases translators have
to make reasoned guesses as to which word was intended. The only time this
Hebrew form is translated to indicate 'observance' is in verse 42.
H8107 2x  shimmur - from H8104; an observance.
H8104 9x  shamar - properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
ie guard; generally, to protect, attend to,
etc.
H8105 2x  shemer - from H8104; something preserved, ie the
settings (plural only) of wine.
This is not the normal word for 'observance'.
Now, consider how the NIV has translated this verse.
Exod 12:41 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring
them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites
are to keep vigil to honour the LORD for the generations
to come.
[ NB: Some other translations have also chosen
to use the word 'vigil'. ]
This was actually a night of commanded 'vigil'. It was a night of
watching. It was a night for staying awake!
What night was this?
It was not the night they started to leave Egypt.
It was the night they crossed the border of Egypt.
The night they passed through the Red Sea!
The night the Egyptian chariots chased after them. A night the children
of Israel feared for their lives.
With the coming of morning light the children of Israel could see the
bodies of the Egyptians on the seashore.
Exod 14:30 So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand
of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead
on the seashore.
Where else in Scripture do we have a night of staying up?
We have an obvious case in Acts 20:7-11 when a young man fell asleep and
as a consequence fell from the third story and died. The whole timing of
this event is confused by the translation (please refer firstdy2.html for
clarification), but it occurs during the night following the daylight of
the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
We also have a less apparent case when the apostles gathered together
after Christ rose.
All these cases occur the first full night after the start of the period
identified as the 'first of the Sabbaths' (commonly incorrectly translated
in the New Testament as the 'first day of the week').
The first full night after the start of the period 'first of the Sabbaths'
can fall on different calendar dates. However, it always falls on a day
during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th to 21st of the first month).
This indicates the requirement to stay awake at night was not fixed to
a certain calendar date. Rather it was held as a memorial, on the night
following the daylight of the Wave Sheaf Day.
The Wave Sheaf day itself followed a weekly Sabbath (as is also discussed
in firstdy2.html ).
So if the Red Sea occurs on the night following the 17th daylight then
the prior 16th day was a weekly Sabbath day!
So combining a 16th weekly Sabbath (of the first month) with a 30 day
fixed length monthly cycle also provides us with the same weekly Sabbath
dates previously indicated.
16th, 23rd and 30th of first month;
7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of second month;
and the 5th of third month.
It also means that the Feast of Weeks (during the first year of the
Exodus), fell on the 6th day of the third month.
THE FEAST AT MARAH
Biblical scholars have overall failed to make the connection between the
sacrifice/feast that God desired and the annual sabbath feast day of
the 7th day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This may be due to a failure to simply realise that the observance days
God later required of the Israelites were very much tied to the unfolding
of the Exodus journey.
Due to this oversight, many have located Marah too far from the city of
Rameses.
PROVISION OF MANNA / QUAIL - Wilderness of Sin
Exodus 16:1 also advises us that the children of Israel arrived at the
Wilderness of Sin on the 15th day of the second month. The next morning
manna was provided for the very first time.
Exod 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all
the congregation of the children of Israel came
unto the Wilderness of Sin, ... on the fifteenth
day of the second month after their departing
out of the land of Egypt.
Exod 16:13 So it was that quail came up at evening and covered
the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around
the camp.
:14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the
surface of the wilderness, was a small round
substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
:15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said
to one another, :What is it?" For they did not
know what it was.
And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which
the Lord has given you to eat."
Quail was first provided that evening and then the next morning the
first manna appeared.
[ NB: This account should not be confused with the later
occurring narrative found in Num 11:18-20,31-34. ]
When did the Manna Cease?
After the entering the Promised Land manna ceased to be provided.
It ceased on the 16th, after the 15th day (the 15th being the day
they first ate of the produce of that land).
Josh 5:10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal,
and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of
the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.
:11 And they ate of the produce of the land on the
day after the Passover, unleavened bread and
parched grain, on the very same day.
:12 Then the manna ceased on the day after they had
eaten the produce of the land; and the children
of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the
food of the land of Canaan that year.
[ NB: This also could have been the 2nd month,
if the harvest was delayed that year.
In a year where an extra month has to be
added, it is not added to the prior year
(as some teach) but to the current year.
Refer Flood chronology discussion. ]
Time Sequence:
- In that year the weekly Sabbath had fallen on the 14th day
of that month.
- On the 15th, the day after the weekly Sabbath, the wave sheaf
offering had been presented (presented in the very early
morning).
This allowed any remaining 'parched grain' from the earlier
years crop to be eaten. As Lev 23:9-10,14 specifically forbade
the eating of any of the produce of the Promised Land until
this wave sheaf offering had been presented.
- On the 16th, the day after the commanded rest day of the
15th (Lev 23:6-7), the harvest of the new years crop began
and there was no longer a need for the manna.
Scripture says that the children of Israel had eaten manna 40 years.
Exod 16:35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until
they came to a land that was settled; they ate
manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
[ NB: As Scripture tends to count inclusively,
one has to keep in mind that the portions
of a year will be counted as a full year. ]
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WEEKLY SABBATH - Wilderness of Sin
We have already briefly discussed the re-establishment of the weekly
Sabbath cycle encountered in Exodus chapter 16.
That chapter advised the following information.
1) The quail was first provided that evening and the manna was
provided the next day.
Exod 16:12 ... 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in
the morning you shall be filled with bread.'
...
:13 So it was that quail came up at evening and
covered the camp, and in the morning the dew
lay all around the camp.
:14 And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on
the surface of the wilderness, was a small
round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
:16 ... And Moses said to them, "This is the bread
which the Lord has given you to eat."
2) They gathered twice as much bread the sixth day.
Exod 16:22 And so it was, on the sixth day, that they
gathered twice as much bread, ...
:23 Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord
has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy
Sabbath to the Lord. .... lay up for yourselves
all that remains, to be kept until morning.'"
:26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh
day, the Sabbath, there will be none."
The children of Israel had arrived at the Wilderness of Sin on the
15th day.
Was the count of six days started with the next day,
the 16th. In which case the 22nd would be a weekly
Sabbath.
or
Was the count of six days started with that day,
the 15th. In which case the 21st would be a weekly
Sabbath.
The first choice places emphasis on wanting six days of collecting
manna before the Sabbath.
The second choice counts the provision of quail on the 15th as the
proof that it was the first day. Thereafter, in that week, there
being only five days in which manna was provided. (This view also
considers the information that they travelled on the 15th as an
indication that the 15th of the second month was not a weekly
Sabbath.)
The issue is resolved by the 'vigil' observance discussed above.
Confirming the second choice as the correct choice.
ARRIVAL AT SINAI - Feast of Weeks
Exodus 19:1 has already been discussed.
The best of the options was that which focused upon the third appointed
figurative New Moon of that year (ie, The Feast of Weeks).
They arrived at the mountain of God on the day of the Feast of Weeks.
The Feast of Weeks always occurred after the 7th Sabbath (the 7th
weekly Sabbath after the wave sheaf day). In the year of the Exodus,
it fell on the 6th day of the third month.
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