שמות, פרק ט״ז, פסוק י״ט

Gathering daily sustenance in the wilderness served as a continuous spiritual exercise in faith and reliance on divine providence. The strict instruction not to save any food for the following day was designed to instill a deep trust that God would provide anew each morning. The primary approach among commentators is that this prohibition stems directly from the demand for absolute trust in God. Hoarding food reveals a fundamental lack of faith and an underlying anxiety about the future. A person who has enough to eat for today but worries about what he will eat tomorrow is viewed as lacking in faith [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, בכור שור, ברכת אשר, קאסוטו].

This anxiety creates an unjustified stretching of boundaries. Stinginess, born out of fear, prevents a person from fully enjoying God's gift in the present moment, ultimately turning that fear into a sin [רש ר הירש]. Practically, the command to avoid leftovers did not require anyone to forcefully overeat if they were already full. Instead, if a person had extra food they could not finish, they were simply expected to throw it out of their tent, ensuring nothing was secretly stored away for the next day [אבן עזרא, הטור הארוך, ביאור יש״ר].

The instruction addressed various human tendencies. For instance, a respectable and well-mannered person might normally leave a small amount of food in the pot out of mere habit or politeness. Yet, even this innocent custom of leaving a remnant was strictly forbidden [העמק דבר]. Following this rule required immense self-control, challenging an individual to conquer natural impulses and overcome the deeply ingrained human urge to hoard [שפתי כהן].

While the instruction was clearly delivered by Moses, with some suggesting it was aimed specifically at the elders [העמק דבר], a unique perspective proposes that Moses actually established this prohibition on his own initiative. Understanding the divine promise of a daily ration, Moses deduced logically that one day should not prepare for the next. When he announced this rule, the people initially disobeyed, assuming it was merely the logical advice of a wise leader rather than a direct prophetic command. Ultimately, however, God agreed with Moses's reasoning [אור החיים].

Beyond the spiritual test of faith, there was also a practical health benefit to this restriction. The exact amount of food provided was perfectly measured for the needs of the human body, and any attempt to hoard or consume beyond that daily portion could cause physical harm [רלב״ג]. Historically, this strict daily limit was only enforced as long as the food fell daily to serve as a test of faith. Years later, when the daily provision finally ceased in the fortieth year, the Israelites were permitted to keep and live off whatever remained in their vessels for many days [פענח רזא].