6 Don't be too demanding of us, lest we sin in desperation. 7 And even if you don't turn us back, we will not keep away, but we will come to you. 8 For if I am hungry, I will cry out to you, O God, and you will give me something. 9 You feed the young birds and the fish, when you send rain to the wilderness that the grass may grow; 10 So to provide pasture in the wilderness; for every living thing; when they are hungry, will turn to you. 11 You feed kings and rulers and their subjects, O God, and who is the hope of the poor and the needy, if not you, O Lord?

AND ENCAMPED BEFORE THE CITY. He showed his regard (hanan) for the important men (panim) of the city by sending them gifts. Another interpretation of AND ENCAMPED BEFORE THE CITY: he began to set up bazaars and sell cheaply. This teaches that a man must be grateful to a place whence he derives benefit. R. Simeon b. Yohai and his son were hidden in a cave for thirteen years. Their food consisted of withered carobs until their bodies broke out in sores. At the end of this period he [R. Simeon] emerged and sat at the entrance of the cave and saw a hunter engaged in catching birds. Now whenever R. Simeon heard a heavenly voice exclaim from heaven, ‘Mercy!’ it escaped; if it exclaimed, ‘Death!’ it was caught. ‘Even a bird is not caught without the assent of Providence,’ he remarked; ‘how much more then the life of a human being!’ Thereupon he went forth and found that the trouble had subsided. Then they went and bathed in cold baths.