[68] It has indeed been asserted that God by a miracle equalized the portion of every one on five days, and doubled the portion of each on the sixth, so that no act of the people had any bearing on the Sabbath. But the equal portion of each on the five days was not thus understood by Paul. He says: “But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; that there may be equality; as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.” 2 Cor. 8:14, 15. And that the double portion on the sixth day was the act of the people, is affirmed by Moses. He says that “on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread.” Verse 22.
[69] Gen. 7:4, 10; 8:10, 12; 29:27, 28; 50:10; Ex. 7:25; Job 2:13.
[70] By this three-fold miracle, occurring every week for forty years, the great Law-giver distinguished his hallowed day. The people were therefore admirably prepared to listen to the fourth commandment enjoining the observance of the very day on which he had rested. Ex. 16:35; Josh. 5:12; Ex. 20:8-11.
[71] The twelfth chapter of Exodus relates the origin of the passover. It is in striking contrast with Ex. 16, which is supposed to give the origin of the Sabbath. If the reader will compare the two chapters he will see the difference between the origin of an institution as given in Ex. 12, and a familiar reference to an existing institution as in Ex. 16. If he will also compare Gen. 2 with Ex. 12, he will see that the one gives the origin of the Sabbath in the same manner that the other gives the origin of the passover.
[72] This implies, first, the fall of a larger quantity on that day, and second, its preservation for the wants of the Sabbath.
[73] This must refer to going out for manna, as the connection implies; for religious assemblies on the Sabbath were commanded and observed. Lev. 23:3; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16; Acts 1:12; 15:21.
[74] John 7:22.
[75] Gen. 17:34; Ex. 4. Moses is said to have given circumcision to the Hebrews; yet it is a singular fact that his first mention of that ordinance is purely incidental, and plainly implies an existing knowledge of it on their part. Thus it is written: “This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof; but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.” Ex. 12:43, 44. And in like manner when the Sabbath was given to Israel, that people were not ignorant of the sacred institution.
[76] Eze. 20:12; Ex. 31:17.
[77] Jer. 10:10-12.