22 And it cometh to pass on the sixth day, they have gathered a second bread, two omers for one, and all the princes of the company come in, and declare to Moses. 23 And he saith unto them, 'It 'is' that which Jehovah hath spoken 'of'; a rest—a holy sabbath to Jehovah—'is' to-morrow; that which ye bake, bake; and that which ye boil, boil; and all that is over, let rest for yourselves in charge till the morning.' 24 And they let it rest until the morning, as Moses hath commanded, and it hath not stank, and a worm hath not been in it. 25 And Moses saith, 'Eat it to-day, for to-day 'is' a sabbath to Jehovah; to-day ye find it not in the field: 26 six days ye do gather it, and in the seventh day—the sabbath—in it there is none.' 27 And it cometh to pass on the seventh day, some of the people have gone out to gather, and have not found. 28 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'How long have ye refused to keep My commands, and My laws? 29 see, because Jehovah hath given to you the sabbath, therefore He is giving to you on the sixth day bread of two days; abide ye each 'in' his place, no one doth go out from his place on the seventh day.' 30 And the people rest on the seventh day, 31 and the house of Israel call its name Manna, and it 'is' as coriander seed, white; and its taste 'is' as a cake with honey.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 16:22-31
Commentary on Exodus 16:22-31
(Read Exodus 16:22-31)
Here is mention of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known, not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning, Genesis 2:3. The setting apart one day in seven for holy work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was ever since God created man upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. Appointing them to rest on the seventh day, he took care that they should be no losers by it; and none ever will be losers by serving God. On that day they were to fetch in enough for two days, and to make it ready. This directs us to contrive family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the life that is to come. When they kept manna against a command, it stank; when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and good; every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the seventh day God did not send the manna, therefore they must not expect it, nor go out to gather. This showed that it was produced by miracle.