Exodus Chapter 16 verse 13 Holy Bible
And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp.
read chapter 16 in ASV
And it came about that in the evening little birds came up and the place was covered with them: and in the morning there was dew all round about the tents.
read chapter 16 in BBE
And it came to pass in the evening, that quails came up, and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay round the camp.
read chapter 16 in DARBY
And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
read chapter 16 in KJV
And it came to pass, that at evening the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay around the host.
read chapter 16 in WBT
It happened at evening that quail came up and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay around the camp.
read chapter 16 in WEB
And it cometh to pass in the evening, that the quail cometh up, and covereth the camp, and in the morning there hath been the lying of dew round about the camp,
read chapter 16 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 13. - The quails came up. The word here translated, "quails" has been supposed to designate the flying-fish (Trigla Israelitarum of Ehrenberg), or a species of locust (Ludolf). But Psalm 78:28, makes it clear that "feathered fowls" are intended; and moderns generally, are agreed that the rendering "quails" is right. It has the authority of the Septuagint, of Josephus, and of the Vulgate. Diodorus says that "the inhabitants of Arabia Petraea prepared long nets, spread them near the coast for many stadia, and thus caught a great number of quails which are in the habit of coming in from the sea" (2:60). The quail regularly migrates from Syria and Arabia in the autumn, and winters in the interior of Africa, whence it returns northwards in immense masses in the spring (Schubert, Reise, vol. 2. p. 361). Kalisch thinks that the particular species of quail intended is the kata of the Arabs (Tetrao Alchata of Linnaeus); but the common quail (Tetrao coturnix) is preferred by most commentators. When these birds approach the coast after a long flight over the Red Sea, they are often so exhausted that they rather fall to the ground than settle, and are then easily taken by the hand or killed with sticks. Their flesh is regarded by the natives as a delicacy. Covered the camp - i.e., covered all the ground between the tents in which the Israelites lived in the wilderness. The dew lay. Literally, "there was a layer of dew" - something, i.e., lay on the ground outside the camp which looked like dew, and was in part dew, but not wholly so.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) At even the quails came up.--The common quail (Tetrao coturnix) is very abundant in the East, and regularly migrates from Syria and Arabia in the autumn of the year for the purpose of wintering in Central Africa, whence it returns in immense masses in the spring (Schubert: Reise, vol. ii., p. 361). Exhausted after a long flight over the Red Sea, the flocks drop to the ground as soon as they reach the coast, and it is then easy either to take the birds with the hand or to kill them with sticks. Diodorus says that "the inhabitants of Arabia Petraea were wont to prepare long nets, and spread them near the coast for many furlongs, by which means they caught a great quantity of quails, which were in the habit of coming in from the sea" (ii. 60), The flesh of the quail is regarded as a delicacy throughout the East, though if too many are eaten it is said to be unwholesome.The dew lay.--Literally, there was a lying of dew. A heavy fall seems to be meant.
