Why the Sixth Day Brought a Double Portion of Manna

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 16:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare" (Exodus 16:5). From here we learn that a person may gather food on the eve of the Sabbath for the Sabbath. "And it shall be double." This means bread that is different. You say it means bread that is different; but perhaps it means only doubled bread? When Scripture says elsewhere, "they gathered double bread, two omers for each one" (Exodus 16:22), doubled bread has already been stated. What then does "double" here come to teach? Bread that is different. On every day one omer would come down, but on the Sabbath two omers. On every day its fragrance would spread, but on the Sabbath even more. On every day it would gleam like gold, but on the Sabbath even more. Another interpretation of "And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare": from here they said that a weekday may prepare for the Sabbath and a weekday may prepare for a festival, but a festival may not prepare for the Sabbath, nor may the Sabbath prepare for a festival.

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