Exodus 16:34

Exo 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Ver. 34. To be kept.] For the use of succeeding ages in the most holy places. So Christ, glorified in his humanity, abides for ever. {Heb 7:24}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, the Ark of the covenant, to wit, after that the Ark was made.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 34. Laid it up before the testimony] The עדות eduth or testimony belonged properly to the tabernacle, but that was not yet built. Some are of opinion that the tabernacle, built under the direction of Moses, was only a renewal of one that had existed in the patriarchal times. See Clarke on Ex 16:9. The word signifies reference to something beyond itself; thus the tabernacle, the manna, the tables of stone, Aaron's rod, &c., all bore reference and testimony to that spiritual good which was yet to come, viz., JESUS CHRIST and his salvation.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

34. before the Testimony] i.e. before the Ark, which contained the ‘Testimony,’ P’s standing expression for the Decalogue (see on Exo_25:16): cf. Exo_30:36, Num_17:4; Num_17:10. Cf. Heb_9:4.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Testimony - See the marginal references.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

i.e. Before the ark, which is called the ark of the testimony, Exo 25:16; and here, by way of abbreviation,

the testimony, or witness, because in it were the tables of the covenant, or the law of God, which was a testimony of God’s authority and will, and of man’s subjection and duty, or of the covenant made between God and man. See Deu 10:5; 31:26.

Quest. How could this be laid up before the ark, when the ark was not yet built?

Answ. This text only tells us that Aaron did lay it up, but it doth not determine the time, nor affirm that it was done at this instant, but rather intimates the contrary, and that it was done afterwards when the testimony, i.e. the ark, was built. As the next verse also speaks of what was done in the following forty years.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

34. Before the Testimony — The two stone tablets of the law, afterwards particularly described, (Exo_34:1, etc.,) which were kept in the sacred ark, covered by the mercy-seat. This law was called a Testimony against the sins of Israel.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Aaron laid it up before the testimony. "The testimony" is not the Ark of the Covenant, which is never so called, but the Covenant itself, or the two tables of stone engraved by the finger of God, which are termed "the testimony" in Exo_25:16-21 Exo_40:20; etc. The pot of manna was laid up inside the ark (Heb_9:4) in front of the two tables.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

An omer of this manna was laid up in a golden pot as we are told, Heb. ix, 4, and kept before the testimony, or the ark, when it was afterwards made, The preservation of this manna from waste and corruption, was a standing miracle; and therefore the more proper memorial of this miraculous food. The manna is called spiritual meat, 1 Cor. x, 3, because it was typical of spiritual blessings. Christ himself is the true manna, the bread of life, of which that was a figure, John vi, 49-51. The word of God is the manna by which our souls are nourished, Matt. iv, 4. The comforts of the Spirit are hidden manna, Rev. ii, 17. These comforts from heaven as the manna did, are the support of the divine life in the soul while we are in the wilderness of this world: it is food for Israelites, for those only that follow the pillar of cloud and fire: it is to be gathered; Christ in the word is to be applied to the soul, and the means of grace used: we must every one of us gather for ourselves. There was manna enough for all, enough for each, and none had too much; so in Christ there is a compleat sufficiency, and no superfluity. But they that did eat manna hungered again, died at last, and with many of them God was not well pleased: whereas they that feed on Christ by faith shall never hunger, and shall die no more, and with them God will be forever well pleased. The Lord evermore give us this bread!

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.