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The Talmudic Sages2 extrapolated3 from this verse that the grace must contain three components. It must include gratitude to G-d for
a) the food consumed,
b) the Holy Land, and
c) Jerusalem.4
Thus the first three blessings of the Grace are a biblical obligation.5 Originally, however, every person worded these blessings in whichever manner he saw fit. There was no standard text, or even a set general structure for these blessings.
When the construction of the First Temple was completed, King Solomon added to this blessing mention of the Temple; Jerusalem’s crown jewel
• When the Manna first came down from heaven, Moses developed the first blessing—thanking G-d for sustenance.
• When the Jewish people entered Israel, Joshua structured the second blessing—thanking G-d for the Land.
• When King David was coronated in Jerusalem, he composed the basic outline of the third blessing—thanking G-d for Jerusalem. When the construction of the First Temple was completed, King Solomon added to this blessing mention of the Temple; Jerusalem’s crown jewel.
When the Men of the Great Assembly instituted a standard prayer text, they did the same with the Grace After Meals. They developed a basic text for these three blessing, the text which is in use to this very day.
The fourth and final blessing of the Grace is wholly rabbinic and was instituted – structure and text – by the Sanhedrin in the city of Yavneh in 3908 (148 CE). This blessing, praising G-d for being “good and beneficent” was instituted to commemorate the tremendous miracle which occurred when the Romans allowed the dead of Beitar to be buried. See What is Tu b’Av? for an account of this miracle.
Footnotes
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Daily Life » Eating
