נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק ל״ה

A sharp contrast exists between the abundance God granted the Israelites and their ultimate response to His gifts. During the times when the people held their own kingdom, they enjoyed complete sovereign independence. They lived in a wide, fertile land, surrounded by immense goodness and prosperity.

Yet, despite all the blessings showered upon them, they failed to serve God and refused to repent [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Even in the face of such overwhelming generosity from Him, the Israelites stubbornly clung to their negative ways, unwilling to turn back from their bad deeds [מצודת ציון].