Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
Ver. 20. Thou gavest also thy good spirit] viz. To their governors and teachers, Numbers 11:16,17; Numbers 11:25,26. Yea, to every good soul, that they might be all taught of God, led into all truth and holiness, Ephesians 5:9. For which end God hath promised to pour his Spirit upon all flesh, that is, the best thing upon the basest, Joel 2:28. Next to the sending of his Son in the flesh (which is called the gift, John 4:10, and the benefit, 1Ti 6:2), what can God do more for his people than to give them his good spirit? this is to give them all good things in one, Mat 7:11 Luke 11:13 .
And withheldest not thy manna] See Nehemiah 9:15. It is twice mentioned, as a singular and signal mercy. And it is well observed by a reverend writer, that this manna and water from the rock (which was Christ in the gospel) were given this people before the law, the sacraments of grace before the legal covenant. The grace of God preventeth our obedience; therefore shall we keep the law of God, because we have a Saviour.