Manna

Manna (archaically also mana; Hebrew: מָן man; Greek: μάννα; Arabic اَلْمَنُّ) or bread of heaven is the name given in the Bible Ex 16 to the legendary food that served as nourishment for the Israelites on their wanderings through the desert. Manna is described as "something fine, crunchy, fine like hoarfrost" Ex 16:14, "white like coriander seed" and with the taste of "honey cake" Ex 16:31. This food fell on the desert floor at night and could be picked up in the morning. It was not to be saved. Everything that was not eaten in the evening spoiled overnight Ex 16:19–20. This can be seen as the Lord's demand for trust. Only for the Sabbath were the Israelites allowed to gather double the amount of manna on the sixth day of the week. It did not spoil overnight. On the morning of the Sabbath itself, no fresh manna was to be found Ex 16:22–26.

The exact meaning of the word manna is considered unclear, but probably denotes in Hebrew "What is this?" (Hebrew: מָן הוּא man hu), which is supposed to refer to the sudden, unexpected appearance of the manna in the desert. Rudolf Steiner pointed out that this meant manas, the spirit self or higher self.

„In Christian esotericism the word Manna means the same as Manas ...“ (Lit.:GA 104a, p. 48)

Literature

• Rudolf Steiner: Kosmogonie, GA 94 (2001), ISBN 3-7274-0940-1 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Das Johannes-Evangelium, GA 103 (1995), ISBN 3-7274-1030-2 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Aus der Bilderschrift der Apokalypse des Johannes, GA 104a (1991), ISBN 3-7274-1045-0 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated. Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.