Comentario sobre Deuteronómio 2:7

כי ה' אלהיך ברכך FOR THE LORD THY GOD HATH BLESSED THEE — therefore you should not show yourselves ungrateful to Him by behaving as though you were poor, but act as rich people.

FOR THE ETERNAL THY G-D HATH BLESSED THEE. “Therefore, you should not deny His goodness by behaving as though you were poor; instead deport yourselves like rich people.” This is Rashi’s language. Now, I have not understood what he meant [by the next phrase in the verse, For the Eternal thy G-d hath blessed thee] in all the work of thy hand, since their blessings were heavenly blessings and they did nothing with their hands that it be blessed! Perhaps the expression in all the work of thy hand alludes to the sheep and herds which they brought out from Egypt.¹³⁰Exodus 12:32. They also had riches, herds, and acquisitions from the spoils of the Egyptians and the spoils of Amalek. Everything they possessed was blessed, similar to what is stated, Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land.¹³¹Job 1:10. Moreover, the Eternal hath known thy walking through this vast wilderness and He supplied you there with all your needs — the manna, the quails, and the waters of the well — so that thou hast lacked nothing that is needed by wayfarers. And so it was — they bought food and nourishment from the children of Esau as Moses said [to Sihon], Thou shalt sell me food for money that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink etc.; as the children of Esau did unto me etc.¹³²Further, Verses 28-29.

ידע לכתך, He repaired or improved that way wherever necessary. The word ידע is used here in the same sense as in Exodus 5,25 וידע אלוקים, where it meant that G’d took benevolent notice of the plight the Israelites were in and began to rectify their situation. Similar uses of the term are found in Exodus 33,12 where Moses is the beneficiary of such ידיע, and in Deuteronomy 34,10 where he is again described as the beneficiary of such a ידיע, intimate familiarity with G’d.

לא חסרת דבר, even in regions in which there was no opportunity to buy any food, drink, or other necessities, you never lacked anything and you obtained it without even having to pay for it. When it was possible to purchase things G’d allowed you to do so.

"For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the works of your hands." For they had been close in proximity to Edom and the other settled lands, and they would do business with these folks and God caused this trade to be successful. "Knew your travels." As the Seforno translated, this is similar to the language of "and God knew...". Which is to say, God had a hand in your travels specifically. Any time the Torah says "knew", this is positive, as it says in the Sifri in parshat Behaalotcha, God only remembers for a blessing, as it says "God remembered us for good." And "knowing" is similar.

In all your handiwork. The phrase “handiwork” applies only to those who work the land, or in buying and selling and similar activities. The generation of the desert did none of these activities. Perhaps the blessing that is mentioned here refers to the great wealth which they brought out with them from Egypt, and this was their by right as payment for their work in Egypt. So the blessing was for their great wealth as payment for their handiwork.

Therefore do not show ingratitude, etc. This verse does not mean to say, “You therefore have no need for Eisov.” Otherwise it should say, “You have much,” or, “You have everything,” [instead of, “you have lacked nothing (in the past)”] (Gur Aryeh). The term, “Your handiworks,” refers to livestock, as it is written (Iyov 1:10), “You have blessed his handiworks, and his livestock has spread over the land.”

V. 7. כי וגו׳ בכל מעשה ידך, selbst in dem, was dir nicht wie Manna und Wasser unmittelbar von Gott wurde, was du dir selbst wie Kleider usw. zu bereiten hattest (vergl. Kap. 8, 4: ידע לבתך וגו׳ .(שמלתך לא בלתה מעליך: er nahm Kenntnis von deiner Wanderung durch die Wüste, richtete seine vorsehende Fürsorge darauf. Den Söhnen Esaus soll durch diese Berührung mit dem wider ihr Erwarten durch Gottes Fürsorge mit allem versehenen Volke einer vierzigjährigen Wanderung durch die Wüste eine Ahnung von Gott und seiner allvermögenden Waltung auf Erden aufgehen. Daher das ונשמרתם מאר (V. 4).