Exodus 16:9-18

9Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to all the Israelites, “The Lord has heard the bad things that you have said against him. Now come together, and stand in front of him.” ’

10While Aaron spoke, the Israelites looked towards the desert. They saw the bright glory of the Lord which appeared in the cloud.

11Then the Lord said to Moses,

12‘I have heard the bad things that the Israelites have said against me. Tell them this: “In the evening, you will eat meat. And in the morning you will eat all the bread that you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.” ’

13That evening, quails appeared. They covered all the ground round the tents. In the morning, there was dew on the ground round the tents.

14When the dew had gone, thin white pieces remained on the dry ground, there in the desert. It seemed like frost on the ground.

15When the Israelites saw these pieces, they said, ‘What is it?’ They did not understand what it was. But Moses said to them, ‘This is the bread that the Lord has given to you. It is for you to eat.

16This is what the Lord has commanded: “Each family must pick up as much as they need to eat. Pick up two litres for each person who lives in your tent.” ’

17So the Israelites did this. Some of them picked up a lot of the food. Some of them picked up only a little food.

18But when they measured the right amount, everyone had enough to eat. The person who had picked up a lot did not have too much. And the person who had picked up only a little food still had enough to eat. Each person had picked up what he needed.