נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ו

God's constant care for the Israelites during their desert journey involved both sustaining their physical survival and guiding them toward their ultimate destiny in the Promised Land. To ensure they survived the harsh wilderness, God directly provided for all their physical needs, satisfying their hunger and quenching their thirst [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The heavenly bread was the manna He brought down specifically to feed them, while water was miraculously drawn from solid rock, an extraordinary event that occurred twice during their long wanderings [רלב״ג].

Beyond merely keeping them alive, God directed their sights forward. He issued a clear command and promise, urging the Israelites to advance and take possession of the land [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Part of this directive even involved the practical step of sending spies to properly prepare for the upcoming conquest [רלב״ג].

This command was backed by a profound divine guarantee. The primary approach among commentators is that God made a formal oath to give the land to the Israelites, fulfilling the promise He originally made to their ancestors. This solemn vow is pictured as God raising His hand, mirroring the human gesture of lifting a hand to take a binding oath [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רלב״ג].