John Gill Commentary Deuteronomy 8:16

"who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end:" — Deuteronomy 8:16 (ASV)

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna
Even all the forty years they were in it, (Exodus 16:35) which your 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 your latter end ;
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"^F25; 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.