In the Bible, the 16th chapter of Exodus reports how the Lord fed the entire camp of Israel (which numbered a few million at that time, by many accounts) with manna for 40 years while they wandered in the desert wilderness. It was unlike anything the Hebrews had ever seen, so when they asked, "What is it?" (Exodus 16:15 NIV), the name stuck...or as they would have asked, "Manna?"

     Consider the Biblical description: "When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor...It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey." (Exodus 16: 14 & 31b NIV) The Bible also states that it had to be gathered early in the morning before it "melted away", and that if it was kept overnight, it would be found the next morning "full of maggots."

     Eyewitness accounts of manna appear over the years. In 1483, Breitenbach, Dean of Mainz reported: "...throughout the region of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa or "Mountain of Moses" in Arabic), there can still be found the Bread of Heaven, which the monks and Arabs gather, preserve and sell to pilgrims... (It) falls about daybreak like the dew or hoarfrost and hangs in beads on grass, stones and twigs. It is sweet like honey and sticks to the teeth. We bought a lot of it." In fact, manna continues to occur. Bedouins in the area can gather up to four pounds per person.

     As it turns out, manna is a secretion of the tamarisk tree, produced when they are pricked by a certain type of plant louse. Although, the substance itself can be kept almost indefinitely, unless it is quickly gathered and carefully preserved, it will indeed "melt away" or else be "full of maggots." It seems that ants in the area live on it, too. By mid-morning, they will have eaten away any manna left out...in the field or otherwise.

Acknowledgments: 16, 17, 55, 56

© Russ Brown, 1998