Commentaries:
Where did this food come from? It could not have been manna because manna could not be stored. It could have included some meat they slaughtered from the herds and flocks traveling with them. It could also be evidence that the Israelites were already gathering and perhaps eating the produce of the lands they were conquering. The narrative does not say what lands, but it could include the Promised Land because people were already beginning to take up residence east of the Jordan.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Countdown to Pentecost 2001
"Prepare food" - Where did this food come from? It could not have been manna, because manna could not be stored. They had to prepare foods that would last for a time. We can speculate. It could have included meat slaughtered from the herds and flocks they traveled with through the wilderness. This command could also be the first bit of evidence that the Israelites were already gathering and eating of the produce of the land that they were conquering. Which land? The narrative does not say. It could certainly include produce from the Promised Land because some Israelites (the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) were already taking up residence on the eastern side of the Jordan.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Wavesheaf and the Selfsame Day
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