איוב, פרק ל״ח, פסוק כ״ו

Rain falling in desolate, remote regions raises a profound question about the purpose of nature when it does not directly serve human needs. God directs weather systems even to the most isolated places on earth, bringing water to completely dry and parched lands where seemingly no one is present to benefit [אלשיך, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators is that this remote rainfall is designed to sustain the broader ecological system. God waters unpopulated regions to grow grass and pasture for wild animals, sustaining the lives of all creatures, including snakes and scorpions [רמב״ן, תקות אנוש].

While some view the descriptions of these empty lands as a simple repetition for emphasis [מצודת דוד], others find a deep distinction in how God uses this rain for either blessing or punishment [מלבי״ם]. A careful contrast is drawn between a place entirely devoid of any living creature and a place merely empty of human beings. When rain falls on a total wasteland where no life exists at all, it acts as a form of punishment for human society, as the valuable water is essentially wasted where nothing can enjoy it. Conversely, when rain falls in a wilderness that lacks humans but is filled with wildlife, it is a deliberate act of divine blessing, intended to sprout vegetation and provide food for the animals living there.