Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
As a reward for Abraham's readiness, in answer to the summons to
sacrifice Isaac, when he said, "Here am I," God promised manna to the
descendants of Abraham with the same words, "Here I am." In the same
way, during their wanderings through the wilderness, God repaid the
descendants of Abraham for what their ancestor had done by the angels
who visited him. He himself had fetched bread for them, and likewise
God Himself caused bread to rain from heaven; he himself ran before
them on their way, and likewise God moved before Israel; he had water
fetched for them, and likewise God, through Moses, caused water to flow
from the rock; he bade them seek shade under the tree, and likewise God
had a cloud spread over Israel. [92] Then God spoke to Moses: "I will
immediately reveal Myself without Jacob, 'I will rain bread from My
treasure in heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a
certain rate every day.'"
There were good reasons for not exceeding a day's ration in the daily
downpour of manna. First, that they might be spared the need of
carrying it on their wanderings; secondly, that they might daily
receive it hot; and, lastly, that they might day by day depend upon
God's aid, and in this way exercise themselves in faith. [93]
While the people were still abed, God fulfilled their desire, and
rained down manna for them. For this food had been created on the
second day of creation, [94] and ground by the angels, it later
descended for the wanderers in the wilderness. [95] The mills are
stationed in the third heaven, where manna is constantly being ground
for the future use of the pious; [96] for in the future world manna
will be set before them. [97] Manna deserves its name, "bread of the
angels," not only because it is prepared by them, but because those who
partake of it become equal to the angels in strength, and, furthermore,
like them, have no need of easing themselves, as manna is entirely
dissolved in the body. Not until they sinned, did they have to ease
themselves like ordinary mortals. [98]
Manna also showed its heavenly origin in the miraculous flavor it
possessed. There was no need of cooking or baking it, nor did it
require any other preparation, and still it contained the flavor of
every conceivable dish. One had only to desire a certain dish, and no
sooner had he thought of it, than manna had the flavor of the dish
desire. The same food had a different taste to every one who partook of
it, according to his age; to the little children it tasted like milk,
to the strong youths like bread, to the old men like honey, to the sick
like barley steeped in oil and honey. [99]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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