דברים, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ה׳

A divine promise of abundance covers the entire human process of gathering and preparing food, from collecting crops in the field to baking bread at home. The blessing rests directly on the everyday vessels people use, symbolizing the success that will accompany their hard work. The primary approach among commentators is that these containers include the basket used to carry agricultural produce and fruit from the field [רשב״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רש״ר הירש], or the place where flour and bread are stored [אבן עזרא]. Alongside this is the bowl used for kneading dough [רשב״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רש״ר הירש, גור אריה]. Ultimately, God promises that these vessels will constantly overflow with a wealth of fruit and dough [רשב״ם, ביאור יש״ר, בכור שור].

Some commentators explore the deeper nature of this abundance. One view explains that a true blessing rests specifically on things hidden from the eye. Therefore, a person bringing a basket of fruit from the field or kneading dough will discover a much larger amount during measuring than they initially estimated [העמק דבר]. Others describe a blessing of miraculous preservation. Bread placed in the basket will stay fresh and delicious for many days without molding, and dough left in the kneading bowl will not sour or spoil, even if it waits a long time before baking [שפתי כהן].

Because earlier promises already blessed the fruit of the ground, a question arises as to why the produce in the basket must be blessed again. To resolve this, an alternative perspective suggests the vessels hold different types of goods entirely. The basket refers to liquid produce, such as wine and oil, which were traditionally strained through woven baskets. In contrast, the kneading bowl represents dry fruits, like figs and raisins, which remain safely inside a solid container without leaking [רש״י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, משכיל לדוד, ברטנורא, ברכת אשר].

A final layer of meaning connects this physical abundance to the merit of fulfilling Commandments. The basket receives its blessing because of the Commandment to bring the first fruits to God in a basket, while the kneading bowl is blessed in the merit of the Commandment to separate a portion of dough [רש״ר הירש, דעת זקנים]. Another tradition links this reward to the deep faith of the Israelites when they left Egypt. They carried their kneading bowls of dough into the desert without preparing provisions for the journey, blindly trusting and following the command of God [שפתי כהן].