On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much — two omers for each person — and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. The double gathering on the sixth day is spontaneous — the people gather twice as much, apparently without being explicitly told to do so in advance beyond Moses' early instruction in verse 5. The leaders come to Moses to report it, suggesting they are unsure whether the double gathering is permitted or is another violation like the overnight keeping. The leaders' consultation of Moses models the appropriate response to ambiguity in God's community: bring uncertain questions to recognized authority rather than improvising or assuming. Moses' answer in verse 23 will confirm that the double gathering is exactly right — the leaders who asked have done better than those who acted without asking.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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