Exodus 16:10

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.—The Hebrew, as at present pointed, has “in a cloud,” but there can be no reasonable doubt that the “pillar of the cloud” is meant. It was before this that they had been required to appear (Exodus 16:9), and from this almost certainly that some bright radiance was now made to stream forth. The object was at once to rebuke their murmurings, and to uphold the authority of Moses and Aaron.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-12 The provisions of Israel, brought from Egypt, were spent by the middle of the second month, and they murmured. It is no new thing for the greatest kindness to be basely represented as the greatest injuries. They so far undervalue their deliverance, that they wished they had died in Egypt; and by the hand of the Lord, that is, by the plagues which cut off the Egyptians. We cannot suppose they had plenty in Egypt, nor could they fear dying for want in the wilderness, while they had flocks and herds: none talk more absurdly than murmurers. When we begin to fret, we ought to consider, that God hears all our murmurings. God promises a speedy and constant supply. He tried whether they would trust him, and rest satisfied with the bread of the day in its day. Thus he tried if they would serve him, and it appeared how ungrateful they were. When God plagued the Egyptians, it was to make them know he was their Lord; when he provided for the Israelites, it was to make them know he was their God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Appeared in the cloud - Or, "was seen in a cloud." The definite article would imply that the cloud was the same which is often mentioned in connection with the tabernacle. The people saw the cloud here spoken of beyond the camp.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. Then said the Lord unto Moses—Though the outbreak was immediately against the human leaders, it was indirectly against God: yet mark His patience, and how graciously He promised to redress the grievance.

I will rain bread from heaven—Israel, a type of the Church which is from above, and being under the conduct, government, and laws of heaven, received their food from heaven also (Ps 78:24).

that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no—The grand object of their being led into the wilderness was that they might receive a religious training directly under the eye of God; and the first lesson taught them was a constant dependence on God for their daily nourishment.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

An extraordinary brightness suddenly appearing in the pillar of cloud. See Leviticus 9:6,23.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel,.... Before he had well done speaking:

that they looked toward the wilderness; they were already in the wilderness of Sin, and they looked straight forward toward that part of it which was yet before them, or to the wilderness of Sinai, which was right onward, and whither they were travelling:

and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud; which went before them; there was a more than common brightness in it, an effulgence and beam of light and glory shining in it. Christ, the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person, appeared in it, in some visible displays of his majesty, which made it very observable to them.

Geneva Study Bible

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. that they looked, &c.] Cf. the very similar passage, Numbers 16:42. The ‘wilderness’ is however remarkable: as Di. remarks, they were in the wilderness (vv. 1, 2, 3), so that some more definite direction would be expected: originally, as he suggests, probably ‘toward the sanctuary,’ or ‘the tent of meeting’ (as Nu. l.c.), stood here (so Bä., McNeile).

the glory of Jehovah, &c.] A brilliant glow of fire (cf. on Exodus 13:21 f.), symbolizing Jehovah’s presence, gleamed through the cloud, resting (if the conjecture in the last note be accepted) upon the Tent of Meeting. The cloud shrouds the full brilliancy of the glory, which human eye could not behold. The ‘glory of Jehovah’ is often mentioned in P in the same sense: Exodus 24:16 f.; and in connexion with the Tent of Meeting, Exodus 29:43, Exodus 40:34-35 (cf. 1 Kings 8:11, Ezekiel 43:4-5); and especially Leviticus 9:6; Leviticus 9:23, Numbers 14:10; Numbers 16:19; Numbers 16:42; Numbers 20:6. Comp. in Ezekiel’s visions, Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 8:4; Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:4; Ezekiel 10:18-19; Ezekiel 11:22-23; Ezekiel 43:2; Ezekiel 43:4-5; Ezekiel 44:4; also Luke 2:9. Cf. DB. ii. 184–6, v. 639 f.

Exodus 16:10

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

But before Jehovah manifested Himself to the people in His glory, by relieving their distress, He gave them to behold His glory in the cloud, and by speaking out of the cloud, confirmed both the reproaches and promises of His servants. In the murmuring of the people, their unbelief in the actual presence of God had been clearly manifested. "It was a deep unbelief," says Luther, "that they had thus fallen back, letting go the word and promise of God, and forgetting His former miracles and aid." Even the pillar of cloud, this constant sign of the gracious guidance of God, had lost its meaning in the eyes of the people; so that it was needful to inspire the murmuring multitude with a salutary fear of the majesty of Jehovah, not only that their rebellion against the God who had watched them with a father's care might be brought to mind, but also that the fact might be deeply impressed upon their hearts, that the food about to be sent was a gift of His grace. "Coming near before Jehovah" (Exodus 16:9), was coming out of the tents to the place where the cloud was standing. On thus coming out, "they turned towards the desert" (Exodus 16:10), i.e., their faces were directed towards the desert of Sin; "and, behold, the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud," i.e., in a flash of light bursting forth from the cloud, and revealing the majesty of God. This extraordinary sign of the glory of God appeared in the desert, partly to show the estrangement of the murmuring nation from its God, but still more to show to the people, that God could glorify Himself by bestowing gifts upon His people even in the barren wilderness. For Jehovah spoke to Moses out of this sign, and confirmed to the people what Moses had promised them (Exodus 16:11, Exodus 16:12).