Numbers 11:8 — Manna Mystery: Honey Wafers or Olive Oil Cakes?
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast
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Show Notes
Episode 227 examines the apparent discrepancy between Exodus 16 and Numbers 11 about the taste of manna. Lance Smith reads the verses, consults scholars and rabbinic traditions, and shows how raw versus prepared manna and overlapping flavors (honey and oil) harmonize the accounts.
The episode also reflects on how the changing descriptions mirror Israel’s shifting attitude toward God’s provision and invites listeners to see depth rather than contradiction in Scripture.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: [email protected]
- Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
- The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version. Oxford University Press, 2007.
- BibleRef.com, "What does Exodus 16:31 mean?" https://www.bibleref.com/Exodus/16/Exodus-16-31.html
- Enduring Word Bible Commentary, Exodus 16, by David Guzik. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/exodus-16/
- "Manna from Heaven: What Could Be Better?" by Rabbi Laura Geller, Reform Judaism.org. https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/torah-commentary/manna-heaven-what-could-be-better
- "What Was the Bread From Heaven That Saved God's People?" by Jack Zavada, LearnReligions.com. https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-manna-700742