Another matter, “the Lord your God will maintain for you.” “Will maintain” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Everything of which Israel partakes in this world is a result of the blessings with which the wicked Bilam blessed them. But the blessings that the patriarchs blessed them are reserved for the future, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will maintain [for you the covenant and the kindness regarding which He took an oath to your forefathers].”
Another matter, Rabbi Ḥelbo said: To what is the matter comparable? To an orphan who was being raised by a homeowner. He would eat, drink, and be clothed from [the homeowner’s] property, and [the homeowner] taught him a trade. The orphan said: ‘Everything that I eat, drink, and wear, he will deduct from my wages.’
The homeowner said to him: ‘As you live, whatever you eat, drink, and wear is due to the barrel of water that you fill for me, due to the wood that you chop for me, but your wages are bound and stored for you.’6Your food, drink, and clothing are due to ancillary acts that you do that are not part of your formal job. Your actual wages will be paid to you in full in the future. So, everything that Israel consumes in this world is due to the suffering that befalls them, but their reward is bound and reserved for the future, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will maintain for you...”
And what is “the covenant and the kindness”? Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Israel has three good attributes, and these are: They are shy, merciful, and perform acts of kindness. From where is it derived that they are shy? As it is stated: “So that His fear will be upon your faces” (Exodus 20:17).
From where is it derived that they are merciful? As it is stated: “He will give you mercy, and He will be merciful to you” (Deuteronomy 13:18).7Given that the verse states separately that “He will be merciful to you,” the phrase “He will give you mercy” is interpreted to mean that God will give Israel the attribute of mercy. From where is it derived that they perform acts of kindness? As it is stated: “The Lord your God will maintain for you the covenant and the kindness [regarding which He took an oath to your forefathers].”8This verse is interpreted to mean that God took an oath to the forefathers due to their kindness; see Genesis 18:19.