"He built them up": with two gifts. We are hereby taught that when one of the nations stretched out its hand to receive the manna, it ended up with nothing; to fill up (its vessels) with water from the well, it ended up with nothing.
"He protected them like the pupil of His eye": As it is written (Bamidbar 10:35) "Arise, O L-rd, and let Your foes be scattered, and let your foes flee before You!"
"He found them in a desert land": As it is written (Hoshea 2:16) "Behold, I will entice her and lead her into the wilderness."