יז וא"ר יוחנן מאי דכתיב
17 in one's purse is blessed, as it is said, To give the rain of Thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hands.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXVIII, 12. lhnxtc tnx');"><sup>19</sup></span> R'Isaac further said: Blessing is only possible in things hidden from sight, as it is said, The Lord will command the blessing with thee in thy barns.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXVIII, 8. R. Isaac connects the Hebrew word with to hide, conceal.');"><sup>20</sup></span> In the school of R'Ishmael it was taught: Blessing is only possible in things not under the direct control of the eye, as it is said, 'The Lord will command the blessing with thee in thy barns.' Our Rabbis have taught: On entering the barn to measure the new grain one shall recite the benediction, 'May it be Thy will O Lord, our God, that Thou mayest send blessing upon the work of our hands'. Once he has begun to measure he says, 'Blessed be He who sends blessing into this heap'. If, however, he first measured the grain and then recited the benediction then his prayer is in vain, because blessing is not to be found in anything that has been already weighed or measured or numbered, but only in a thing hidden from sight. <br>(Mnemonic: Gathering of Armies, Charity, Tithes, Sustenance.) R'Johanan said: The day on which rain falls is as great as the day of the Gathering of exiled [Israel,] as said, Turn our captivity: O Lord, as the streams in the dry land.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CXXVI, 4. ohehpt');"><sup>21</sup></span> By 'streams' rain is meant, as it is said, And the channels of the sea appeared.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. XXII, 16. The same word is used in both verses. sisd');"><sup>22</sup></span> R'Johanan further said: The day when rain falls is great, for thereon even warring armies cease [fighting], as it is said, Watering her ridges abundantly, settling down the furrows thereof.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LXV, n. 'Watering ridges' implies rain. 'furrows' has also the meaning of, 'army'.');"><sup>23</sup></span> R'Johanan further said: Rain is withheld only on account of those who subscribe to charity in public and fail to pay, as it is said, As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XXV, 14. Both act deceitfully and disappoint.');"><sup>24</sup></span> R'Johanan further said: What is the meaning of the verse