20. But some of the people did not obey Moses. They saved their food for the next day. But worms got into the food and it began to stink. Moses was angry with the people who did this.
21. Every morning the people gathered as much food as they could eat, but by noon the food melted and was gone.
22. On Friday the people gathered twice as much food—two baskets for every person. So all the leaders of the people came and told this to Moses.
23. Moses told them, “This is what the Lord said would happen. It happened because tomorrow is the Sabbath, the special day of rest to honor the Lord. You can cook all the food you need to cook for today, but save the rest of this food for tomorrow morning.”
24. So the people saved the rest of the food for the next day, as Moses had commanded, and none of the food spoiled or had worms in it.
25. On Saturday, Moses told the people, “Today is the Sabbath, the special day of rest to honor the Lord. So none of you should be out in the fields. Eat the food you gathered yesterday.
26. You should gather the food for six days. But the seventh day of the week is a day of rest—so there will not be any of the special food on the ground.”
27. On Saturday, some of the people went out to gather some of the food, but they could not find any.
28. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you people refuse to obey my commands and teachings?
29. Look, the Lord has made the Sabbath a day of rest for you. So on Friday he will give you enough food for two days. Then, on the Sabbath, each of you should sit down and relax. Stay where you are.”
30. So the people rested on the Sabbath.
31. The people called the special food “manna.” It was like small white coriander seeds and tasted like thin cakes made with honey.