תהלים, פרק ק״ד, פסוק כ״ח

God's care over His creations is absolute, as He alone serves as the source of all abundance and food in the world [אבן עזרא]. The delivery of this sustenance occurs through two distinct modes of divine supervision. The primary approach among commentators is that these modes represent two opposing natural conditions.

The first condition reflects times of drought and scarcity. During these periods, food is given sparingly, and creatures are forced to scavenge, gathering their meals slowly and carefully, item by item [מלבי״ם], collecting whatever they manage to find [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another perspective views this focused gathering not as a sign of lack, but as an expression of perfect precision. In this view, God provides for the needs of His creations so accurately that they find their food immediately, almost as if they do not need to toil to collect it at all [מאירי].

The second condition stands in sharp contrast, representing times of immense abundance and relief. When God opens His hand widely to the world, food becomes available in great supply, allowing all creations to eat until they are completely satisfied [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מאירי].