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Exodus 16:8 - Divine response to complaints

Exodus 16:8 - שמות 16:8

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּתֵת יְהוָה לָכֶם בָּעֶרֶב בָּשָׂר לֶאֱכֹל וְלֶחֶם בַּבֹּקֶר לִשְׂבֹּעַ בִּשְׁמֹעַ יְהוָה אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם מַלִּינִם עָלָיו וְנַחְנוּ מָה לֹא־עָלֵינוּ תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶם כִּי עַל־יְהוָה׃

English Translation

And Moshe said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening meat to eat, and in the morning your fill of bread; when the Lord hears your murmurings which you murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.

Transliteration

Va'yomer Moshe b'tet Adonai lakhem ba'erev basar le'ekhol v'lechem baboker lisboa bishmo'a Adonai et-telunoteikhem asher-atem malinim alav v'nachnu mah lo-aleinu telunoteikhem ki al-Adonai.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה בְּתֵ֣ת יְהֹוָה֩ לָכֶ֨ם בָּעֶ֜רֶב בָּשָׂ֣ר לֶאֱכֹ֗ל וְלֶ֤חֶם בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ בִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עָלָ֑יו וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה לֹא־עָלֵ֥ינוּ תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖ם כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָֽה׃
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה בְּתֵ֣ת יְהֹוָה֩ לָכֶ֨ם בָּעֶ֜רֶב בָּשָׂ֣ר לֶאֱכֹ֗ל וְלֶ֤חֶם בַּבֹּ֙קֶר֙ לִשְׂבֹּ֔עַ בִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־תְּלֻנֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עָלָ֑יו וְנַ֣חְנוּ מָ֔ה לֹא־עָלֵ֥ינוּ תְלֻנֹּתֵיכֶ֖ם כִּ֥י עַל־יְהֹוָֽה׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in Shemot (Exodus)

This verse (Shemot 16:8) appears during the episode of the manna and quails, when Bnei Yisrael complained about lacking food in the wilderness. Moshe responds to their murmuring by emphasizing that their complaints are ultimately directed at Hashem, not at him or Aharon.

Moshe’s Response to Complaints

Rashi explains that Moshe clarifies the people’s error in directing their complaints toward human leaders rather than recognizing that their sustenance comes directly from Hashem. The phrase "וְנַחְנוּ מָה" ("and what are we?") underscores that Moshe and Aharon are merely conduits for Hashem’s will—they have no independent power to provide food.

The Timing of the Miraculous Sustenance

  • Evening (Meat): The quails arrived in the evening, as described later in the chapter (Shemot 16:13). Rashi notes this was a response to their craving for meat.
  • Morning (Bread): The manna appeared each morning, teaching Bnei Yisrael to rely on Hashem daily (Shemot 16:4-5). Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:12) highlights this as a lesson in trust (bitachon).

Complaints Against Hashem

The Ibn Ezra emphasizes that murmuring against Moshe and Aharon was tantamount to murmuring against Hashem Himself, since they were acting as His agents. The Talmud (Berachot 32a) derives from here that speaking against righteous leaders is akin to speaking against the Divine Presence.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash Tanchuma (Beshalach 20) elaborates that Moshe’s words were meant to awaken the people to recognize Hashem’s constant providence. By framing their sustenance as a direct gift from Hashem ("בְּתֵת יְהוָה לָכֶם"), Moshe redirects their focus from human intermediaries to the true Source of their blessings.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yoma 75a
The verse is discussed in the context of the manna and quails provided to the Israelites in the wilderness, illustrating God's response to their complaints.
📖 Ta'anit 9a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about divine providence and the sustenance provided to the Israelites during their journey in the desert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 16:8 mean?
A: In Exodus 16:8, Moshe tells the Israelites that Hashem will provide them with meat in the evening and bread in the morning in response to their complaints about food. He emphasizes that their complaints are not against him and Aharon, but against Hashem Himself. This teaches us that when we complain about our circumstances, we must recognize that everything comes from Hashem (Rashi on Exodus 16:8).
Q: Why is the manna and quail story important in Judaism?
A: The story of the manna (bread) and quail (meat) in Exodus 16 is important because it demonstrates Hashem's constant care for the Jewish people in the wilderness. The manna, which fell daily except Shabbat (when a double portion fell on Friday), taught trust in Hashem's providence. This miracle is mentioned throughout Jewish tradition as a foundational lesson in emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust in G-d) (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 4:1).
Q: What can we learn from Moshe's response to the complaints?
A: Moshe teaches us two important lessons: 1) Leaders must direct people to recognize that all provisions come from Hashem, not human beings, and 2) We should be careful about complaining, as complaints about our situation are ultimately complaints against Hashem's providence (Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 20).
Q: How does the concept of 'complaining against Hashem' apply today?
A: Just as the Israelites' complaints were ultimately against Hashem, today when we express dissatisfaction with our circumstances, we must remember that everything comes from Hashem's will. This doesn't mean we can't pray for change, but we should do so with proper respect and recognition of Divine providence (Talmud, Berachot 5a discusses accepting difficulties with love).
Q: Why did Hashem provide meat in the evening and bread in the morning?
A: The meat (quail) came in the evening and bread (manna) in the morning to show Hashem's complete care - providing both protein and grain, covering all nutritional needs. The sequence also teaches that Hashem responds to our needs in the proper time and manner (Sforno on Exodus 16:8 notes this shows Divine wisdom in meeting needs appropriately).