Concise Bible Dictionary:
The food miraculously supplied from heaven to the Israelites during the forty years of their wanderings. Its name signifies “what is it?” for they knew not what it was. It fell every morning except on the Sabbath, and had to be gathered early, or it melted. If kept till the second day it bred worms, except the double quantity gathered on the day before the Sabbath, which was good on the second day. The quantity to be gathered was on an average an omer (about 4 pints) for every man. Some gathered more and some less; and when they measured it with an omer “he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.”
The explanation given by the Rabbis is that though several in a family went out to gather the manna, when it was brought home and measured it was found to be just an omer for each of them. The more probable explanation is that though on an average an omer was the portion for each, some needed more and others less, and therefore every one gathered “according to his eating,” according to what he knew he would require, and thus everyone had enough and there was nothing wasted. The former part of the passage is quoted in 2 Corinthians 8:15, to show that in making a collection for the poor saints there should be the carrying out of this divine principle of “equality,” the abundance of some contributing to the need of others.
The manna ceased as soon as the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, and eaten of the old corn of the promised land. The manna is described as being like coriander seed, of the color of bdellium. It was ground in mills, or pounded in a mortar, and baked in pans, or made into cakes. It tasted like wafers made with honey (Ex. 16:31); but afterward, when the people had lost their relish for it, like fresh oil (Num. 11:6-9). The people, alas, murmured because they had nothing to eat but the manna.
The manna is typical of Christ Himself, the vessel of God’s good pleasure, and of heavenly grace here on earth—the heavenly One in the midst of earthly circumstances. He is this heavenly grace now for His own, so that grace is ministered to them for the wilderness journey. When they are viewed as in the land, that is, as made to sit in heavenly places in Christ, and entering in spirit upon their heavenly and eternal portion, then Christ in glory, the center of all the Father’s counsels, is their food, as the “old corn” of the promised land. The Christian, whose heart is not set for God’s purpose, gets tired of the manna, and longs, alas, for other food, as the Israelites did (Ex. 16:15-35; Deut. 8:3,16; Josh. 5:12; Neh. 9:20; Psa. 78:24; Heb. 9:4). In Revelation 2:17 the Lord promises to give to the overcomer in the church in Pergamos to eat of the HIDDEN MANNA, that is, some sweet secret communion with Himself, known in the glory as the One who suffered here.
Samaritan coins showing the probably shape of the pot in which the manna was laid up.