Texts in Conversation
In Exodus 16:3, the Hebrew text presents the Israelites recalling that in Egypt they ate bread until they were completely full, suggesting excessive indulgence. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos revises this to say they only ate until they were satisfied, likely to avoid any implication of gluttony.
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Exodus 16:3
Hebrew Bible
2 The entire company of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger!” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they walk in my law or not?
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Onkelos Exodus 16:3
Targum
2 And all the congregation of the children of Israel were troublous against Mosheh and against Aharon in the desert; 3 and the children of Israel said to them, that we had died before the Lord in the land of Mizraim, when we sat by the caldrons of flesh, and could eat bread and be satisfied! Why have you brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with famine? 4 And the Lord said to Mosheh, Behold, I will cause bread to come down to you from heaven; and the people shall go out and collect the matter of the day for the day; that I may prove them whether they will walk in My law, or not.
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Onkelos frequently deviates from rendering the biblical text literally in order to protect the honor of Israelite ancestors. For example, Scripture depicts the Israelites stating that they ate bread in Egypt 'to satiety'—implying that they overate (Exodus 16:3). The Targum alters the description to 'were satisfied.' The translation thereby avoids the inference that the Israelites were gluttons, and, at the same time, reflects the decent, proper, and healthy view that one should cease eating before satiety ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 102) Gefen, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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