Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 16:22-31

"And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which Jehovah hath spoken, Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto Jehovah: bake that which ye will bake, and boil that which ye will boil; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not become foul, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto Jehovah: to-day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none. And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? See, for that Jehovah hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers [made] with honey." — Exodus 16:22-31 (ASV)

Mention is made here of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known not only before the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai but also before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning (Genesis 2:3). The setting apart of one day in seven for holy work, and for that purpose, for holy rest, has been established ever since God created humanity upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. In appointing them to rest on the seventh day, He took care that they would be no losers by it; and no one will ever be a loser by serving God.

On that day they were to gather enough for two days and prepare it. This directs us to arrange 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 to do as possible, so that we may apply ourselves 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. Everything is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the seventh day God did not send the manna; therefore, they were not to expect it, nor go out to gather. This showed that it was produced by a miracle.