Devarim 8:16

16 Who fed thee in the midbar with manna, which Avoteicha knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy acharit;

Devarim 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 8:16

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna
Even all the forty years they were in it, ( Exodus 16:35 ) which thy fathers knew not; when they first saw it, ( Exodus 16:15 )

that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee;
they were kept humble, being dependent on God for their daily bread, having nothing in the wilderness to support themselves with; and this tried them, whether they would trust in God for their daily supply, and be thankful for it, or not:

to do thee good at thy latter end;
that by living on such light bread, and this only and continually, his goodness might appear the greater, and be the sweeter to them, when they came into a land abounding with all good things; which is not to be understood of the latter end and last days of their commonwealth, as our version, with the Septuagint, Samaritan, Arabic versions, and others, and the Targum of Onkelos; but of time following nearer, and the phrase should be rendered "hereafter" {y}; which better agrees with the promise of a divine blessing; though, come when it would, it was the more acceptable for the trial; as heaven will be the sweeter to the saints, through the afflictions, hardships, straits, and difficulties, which attend them here.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (Ktyrxab) "tandem", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Piscator; "posthac", Noldius, p. 180. No. 807.

Devarim 8:16 In-Context

14 Then thine lev be lifted up, and thou forget Hashem Eloheicha which brought thee forth out of Eretz Mitzrayim, from the bais avadim;

15 Who led thee through that great and terrible midbar, wherein were fiery nachash, and akrav (scorpions), and parched earth, where there was no mayim; Who brought thee forth mayim out of the rock of flint;

16 Who fed thee in the midbar with manna, which Avoteicha knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy acharit;

17 And thou say in thine lev, My ko’ach (power) and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this chayil (wealth).

18 But thou shalt remember Hashem Eloheicha; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His Brit which He swore unto Avoteicha, as it is yom hazeh.