דברים, פרק ב׳, פסוק ז׳

As the Israelites prepare to encounter other nations, Moses instructs them to purchase food and water at full price. This command stems from a deep recognition of the divine abundance that accompanied them throughout their years of wandering, requiring them to act with dignity and gratitude. The primary approach among commentators is that the Israelites must not deny God's goodness by pretending to be poor or destitute. Instead, they are expected to display their wealth openly, refusing to hide or cover up the abundance they have received [רש״י, מזרחי, ברכת אשר על התורה]. Because God has sustained them, they should not fear that spending their money will leave them impoverished [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, it is improper for them to consume the resources of others for free when they are fully capable of paying [ביאור יש״ר].

A question naturally arises regarding how the Israelites could be blessed in the work of their hands, given that they survived on Manna in the desert and did not engage in regular labor. Several perspectives address this. One view suggests that the blessing applied to the flocks and herds they brought out of Egypt, as raising and caring for these animals constituted their daily work [רמב״ן, מזרחי, ביאור יש״ר, שפתי חכמים]. Another approach interprets the blessing as the vast wealth and spoils taken from Egypt, which served as delayed compensation for their many years of physical slavery [הכתב והקבלה]. Others broaden the concept to include commercial trade conducted with surrounding nations during their travels [העמק דבר, שד״ל], or even personal tasks they had to manage themselves, such as crafting their own clothing [רש״ר הירש].

God's knowledge of their journey represents much more than mere awareness of their situation; it implies personal providence, love, and active care. It reflects a constant process of preparing the way, guiding them, and supplying every need for those walking the path [ספורנו, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ, נתינה לגר]. Because God provided for their needs in the wilderness entirely for free, their personal funds were never depleted. Consequently, they now possess the full financial capacity to purchase their own food [רשב״ם, בכור שור, ביאור שטיינזלץ, העמק דבר]. Buying supplies from the descendants of Esau is not an act of desperation. Rather, it is a gesture of brotherhood designed to allow other nations to witness and recognize God's greatness and the miracles performed for the Israelites [ספורנו, הכתב והקבלה, רש״ר הירש].

This unbroken chain of divine care highlights the absolute consistency of God's providence. Unlike a human host whose hospitality naturally diminishes over time, perhaps serving prime meat on the first day and settling for simple vegetables later, God maintained the exact same high standard of care for forty consecutive years [פענח רזא, בכור שור, צאינה וראינה]. This care extended to their most specific desires. Every spoken wish regarding food, drink, or clothing was immediately fulfilled, to the point that the Manna itself would take on the precise flavor of whatever they requested [שפתי כהן, צאינה וראינה].