Exodus 16:29

See. The patience of God toward His stubborn people is amazing, and teaches an important lesson to us who tend to be impatient. Instead of always punishing Israel for their repeated murmurings and acts of disobedience, God condescends to reason with them, explaining the purpose of His requirements. The Sabbath was a holy day of rest, with which they were not to tamper; hence, the double portion of food the day before.

Abide ye every man. The Israelites were directed to remain in camp on the Sabbath, and not to go out for manna or for any other purpose. Their time on that day was to be spent in rest at home and in meditation upon sacred themes. God had already instructed Israel to assemble for worship on days designated as “holy” (ch. 12:16), a practice that was consistently applied to other “holy” days (see Lev. 23:2-4, 7, 8, 21,24, 27, 35-37).

In postexilic times the Jews set up and enforced strict regulations concerning the leaving of cities or villages on the Sabbath. No one was permitted to travel farther than 2,000 cubits, or approximately two thirds of a mile. In the NT this distance is commonly referred to as “a sabbath day’s journey” (Acts 1:12). Endless, man-made Sabbath regulations have been strictly followed by orthodox Jews even since Bible times, with the result that the Sabbath, designed by God to be a delight (Isa. 58:13), became a burden.