נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״ה

The arrival of the Israelites into their homeland marked a transition into a fully developed, prosperous region. Everything they needed was already prepared and waiting for them the moment they arrived [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This immediate access to wealth perfectly mirrors earlier promises made in the book of Deuteronomy. God assured the nation that He would bring them into large cities they had not built, houses filled with good things they had not gathered, water cisterns they had not dug, and vineyards they had not planted. Highlighting this parallel does more than just confirm that God fulfilled His promise to provide them with food and satisfaction. It also sets the stage for the events that followed, quietly recalling the severe warning that originally accompanied this promise of prosperity: a caution not to forget God once they were comfortable [מלבי״ם].

The sheer physical wealth that fell into their hands was immense. They successfully conquered heavily fortified cities and took possession of rich, highly fertile land [מצודת ציון]. They inherited homes already overflowing with abundance, along with valuable water cisterns that previous inhabitants had carved out of solid rock with great labor [מצודת דוד].

Surrounded by this massive wealth, the physical condition and lifestyle of the nation changed dramatically. They ate well and grew physically fat [מצודת דוד]. The primary approach among commentators is that the people fully embraced this new comfort, pampering themselves and indulging in a life of luxury made possible by the immense goodness God had poured out upon them.