Exodus 16:34 - Preserving the manna's holy testimony

Context of the Verse

This verse (Shemot 16:34) appears in the narrative of the manna, where Aharon is instructed to place a portion of manna in a jar before the Ark of the Covenant as a testimony for future generations. The phrase "before the Testimony" refers to the Ark containing the Luchot HaBrit (Tablets of the Covenant), as Rashi explains based on the Talmud (Yoma 52b).

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi clarifies that the phrase "before the Testimony" means placing the jar of manna next to the Ark inside the Mishkan, not inside the Ark itself. This aligns with the Talmudic teaching (Bava Batra 14a) that three items were placed near the Ark:

• The jar of manna
• Aharon's staff that blossomed
• The anointing oil

Purpose of the Manna as Testimony

The Ramban (Nachmanides) explains that the manna served as a perpetual reminder of:

• Hashem's miraculous sustenance in the wilderness
• The concept that physical nourishment comes from Divine providence
• The lesson of trusting in Hashem's daily provision

Halachic Implications

The Sforno notes that this commandment established an eternal mishmeret (guarded item) in the Mishkan, teaching that:

• Miracles should be preserved as tangible evidence of Divine intervention
• Future generations require physical reminders of past wonders
• The leadership (represented by Aharon) must safeguard spiritual testimonies

Symbolic Meaning

The Kli Yakar offers a deeper interpretation:

The manna represents both physical and spiritual sustenance. By placing it before the Testimony (the Torah), we learn that:

• Material sustenance should always be secondary to spiritual pursuits
• The Torah is the true "bread" that sustains the Jewish people
• Physical nourishment must be sanctified through its connection to Torah