16. And he orders you to gather about two litres for each person in your family—that should be more than enough.”
17. They did as they were told. Some gathered more and some gathered less,
18. according to their needs, and none was left over.
19. Moses told them not to keep any overnight.
20. Some of them disobeyed, but the next morning what they kept was stinking and full of worms, and Moses was angry.
21. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and in the heat of the day the rest melted.
22. However, on the sixth day of the week, everyone gathered enough to have four litres, instead of two. When the leaders reported this to Moses,
23. he told them that the Lord had said, “Tomorrow is the Sabbath, a sacred day of rest in honour of me. So gather all you want to bake or boil, and make sure you save enough for tomorrow.”
24. The people obeyed, and the next morning the food smelt fine and had no worms.
25. “You may eat the food,” Moses said. “Today is the Sabbath in honour of the Lord, and there won't be any of this food on the ground today.
26. You will find it there for the first six days of the week, but not on the Sabbath.”
27. A few of the Israelites did go out to look for some, but there was none.
28. Then the Lord said, “Moses, how long will you people keep disobeying my laws and teachings?
29. Remember that I was the one who gave you the Sabbath. That's why on the sixth day I provide enough bread for two days. Everyone is to stay at home and rest on the Sabbath.”
30. And so they rested on the Sabbath.
31. The Israelites called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and delicious as wafers made with honey.
32. Moses told the people that the Lord had said, “Store up two litres of this manna, because I want future generations to see the food I gave you during the time you were in the desert after I rescued you from Egypt.”
33. Then Moses told Aaron, “Put some manna in a jar and store it in the place of worship for future generations to see.”
34. Aaron followed the Lord's instructions and put the manna in front of the sacred chest for safekeeping.
35-36. The Israelites ate manna for forty years, before they came to the border of Canaan that was a settled land.