דברי הימים ב, פרק ל״א, פסוק י׳

A breathtaking sight of towering crop heaps filled the Temple courtyards, prompting a deep sense of wonder. The answer to this massive accumulation of contributions lies in a perfect blend of public generosity, the full satisfaction of the holy workers, and a visible divine blessing.

The explanation is delivered by Azaryahu, the chief priest. His exact role is debated among commentators. Some identify him as the High Priest of that era [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Others suggest he did not hold the title of High Priest but served as the primary administrator in charge of Temple operations [מלבי״ם]. A descendant of Zadok the priest, he is sometimes identified as Ahitub [מצודת דוד], with some noting that his service extended as far back as the reign of King Uzziah [רש״י].

Azaryahu explains that ever since the people began bringing their offerings to the Temple [רד״ק], the priests and Levites have eaten to their complete satisfaction, yet a vast amount remains. They are not eating limited rations; they are eating until full, and still, the surplus is immense. This clarifies that the towering heaps of food did not accumulate because there were too few priests to consume them, nor because food was strictly withheld. Rather, the massive leftover exists even after every priest has eaten everything he needs [מלבי״ם].

The root cause of this unusual abundance is that God blessed His people. The primary approach among commentators is that this divine blessing was placed directly upon the people's fields. The land yielded an extraordinary harvest, prompting the public to bring massive quantities of tithes and offerings. Additionally, there is a qualitative aspect to this blessing. In times of divine favor, food becomes more physically satisfying. As a result, the priests were fully nourished by relatively small portions, which naturally left a much larger surplus behind [רלב״ג].

The vast size of this remaining surplus is understood in a few different ways, as it generally implies a massive quantity [מצודת ציון]. Most commentators agree that Azaryahu is simply pointing to the physical heaps of food remaining after the priests' meals, emphasizing that all this enormous wealth is merely the leftover. However, some suggest the description refers to a human multitude. In this view, the surplus is being carefully preserved to provide daily rations for the large crowds of priests and Levites who gathered from all over [רד״ק]. A third approach proposes that the divine blessing did not only occur out in the fields, but continued right inside the Temple. According to this view, God directly blessed the leftovers, miraculously multiplying the heaps into the enormous quantities seen in the courtyards [מלבי״ם].