Epilogue to the Manna Story/2

Epilogue to the Manna Story

Exegetical Approaches

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First Year

Moshe's command to Aharon that he store a portion of manna "before Hashem" was fulfilled already in the first year, soon after the command was issued.

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 16:34About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor

To whom is Moshe speaking in vs. 32 – This position could posit that these words of Moshe were addressed to the nation at large, perhaps as they gathered the manna in the first days that it fell.  Afterwards (in  verse 33) Moshe turned specifically to Aharon with the details of how and where the manna was to be stored.

"לִפְנֵי י"י" versus "לִפְנֵי הָעֵדֻת" – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor distinguishes between the two terms.  "לִפְנֵי י"י" refers to the altar where sacrifices were brought, while "לִפְנֵי הָעֵדֻת" refers to the Ark of Testimony in the Mishkan.  Thus, the verses teach that at first the manna was placed near the altar for safekeeping, but after the Mishkan was built it was transferred there.  Though verses 32-33 are in their chronological place, verse 34 is not and comes here only to complete the story.

Role of Aharon – Since at this point in Sefer Shemot, Aharon has not yet been appointed as a high priest, and the altar would have been accessible to all, it is not clear why the task of storing the manna was given to him specifically.  Perhaps he was chosen not in any cultic capacity, but in his leadership role as Moshe's spokesman and assistant.

Why now? If the container of manna was supposed to serve as a relic for future generations then why was it collected already in the first year, rather than the fortieth? Perhaps, since the nation was originally supposed to enter the land soon after the revelation at Sinai, the miracle was at first intended to be relatively short-lived (lasting weeks rather than years).  As such, from the very beginning Hashem told them to save a sample.

Chronology of verse 35 – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor would agree that verse 35 is found here only to complete the story.

Until when did they eat the manna?

When was this epilogue written?

Second Year

Aharon put the container of manna in the Ark of Testimony after the Mishkan was built in the second year.

Sources:RashiShemot 16:33-35About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RashbamShemot 16:33-35About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 16:35Shemot Short Commentary 16:33-35About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, AbarbanelShemot 16About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, ShadalShemot 16:32-35About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, NetzivShemot 16:32-35About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin, R. David Zvi HoffmannShemot 16:32-36About R. David Zvi Hoffmann, U. CassutoShemot 16About Prof. Umberto Cassuto

Chronology of  verses 32-33 – Though these sources agree regarding the timing of Aharon's actions in verse 34, they disagree concerning the chronology of the initial commands of verses 32-33:

• All achronological – Ibn Ezra and R. D"Z Hoffmann assert that the commands were given in proximity to their fulfillment, and the entire passage only occurred after the construction of the Tabernacle.  According to them, it is possible that both verses 32 and 33 are addressed to Aharon alone.
• Verses 33-35 achronological – According to Shadal,¹ in contrast, Moshe's pronouncement of verse 32 is in its proper place, but Moshe only gave Aharon his specific instructions when the time came for him to fulfill them in the second year. This would explain the need for two separate speeches of Moshe. The first was aimed at the nation when the manna initially came down so they would know that the miracle was to be memorialized, while the second was a practical command to Aharon alone, given a year later.
• Only verse 34-35 are achronological – Abarbanel goes a step further to suggest that even Moshe's pronouncement to Aharon (verse33) took place in the first year, where written. Since Moshe knew that they were eventually going to receive the Tablets and make an ark, there was nothing preventing him from also telling Aharon now what he would need to do in the future. 

Why now? R. D"Z Hoffmann points out that the original plan was to enter the land soon after the Tabernacle was constructed

"לִפְנֵי י"י" versus "לִפְנֵי הָעֵדֻת"

Role of Aharon

Until when did they eat the manna?

When was this epilogue written?

Fortieth Year

Sources:rejected possibility in Mekhilta16:32About Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Shemot and AbarbanelShemot 16About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

¹ Rashi and Rashbam are less explicit but would seem to agree.