“But they did not heed Moses; men left from it until the morning and it became infested with worms and stank, and Moses became angry with them” (Exodus 16:20). “Men left from it,” these were those among them who lacked faith. Who were they? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: They were Datan and Aviram.
Here, “men” is stated, and below “men” is stated, as it is stated: “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men” (Numbers 16:26). Just as the “men” stated below were Datan and Aviram, so, too, the “men” stated here were Datan and Aviram. “And it became infested with worms and stank.” Is there anything that first produces worms and then stinks?
Rather, the Holy One blessed be He sought to show people their actions, [and therefore ensured] that it would not stink at night and they would get up and cast it away; rather, that whole night it produced rows upon rows of worms.23In this way, God ensured that those who had left over the manna would throw it out in the morning, when others were awake and would notice. The large number of worms spread, and caused many people to know about the sin of these individuals.
Immediately, “Moses became angry with them.” “It was on the sixth day that they gathered double the bread, two omer for each and all the princes of the congregation came and told Moses” (Exodus 16:22). “And he said to them, This is that which the Lord has spoken: Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Shabbat to the Lord: bake that which you will bake today, and what you will boil, boil today; and that which remains over, lay up for you, to be kept until the morning” (Exodus 16:23).
“The Lord said to Moses: Until when do you refuse to observe My commandments and My laws?” (Exodus 16:28). When he became angry, he forgot to tell them that they should gather two omer each on the sixth day. When they went and gathered on the sixth day and found double, the princes came and told Moses, as it is stated: “All the princes of the congregation came and told Moses.” What did he say to them?
“This is what the Lord has spoken.” It does not say: “This is what I have spoken,” but rather, “He has spoken,” for [Moses] had forgotten. In that regard it is stated: “Until when do you refuse,” as He includes Moses among them.