What is the meaning of "Acheinu Heimasu es Levaveinu"?
Targum Onkelos and Yerushalmi Ma'asros, 1:2: 'Our brothers broke our hearts in two'. 1
Targum Yonasan: 'Our brothers melted our hearts'.
See Torah Temimah, note 34.
Who has ever heard of towns with walls that reach the sky?
Rashi: The Torah is speaking in exaggerated terms. 1
The Gemara states in Chulin 90b ?From here we learn that the Torah speaks in exaggerated terms?, though it is strange since Moshe was merely citing what the people said. See Torah Temimah, note 35
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes (citng Chulin 90b) that "u'Vetzuros ba'Shamayim" teaches that the Torah exaggerates. Here it cites what the people heard from the spies. Is it not more reasonable that the Gemara learns from (9:1), where the Torah itself says so?
Pesikta Zutresa and Yalkut Shimoni, both citing R. Shimon ben Gamliel, learn this from our Pasuk. Daf Al ha'Daf (Chulin 90b) - Pardes Yosef ha'Chadash Balak 129) says that we may learn from words of Resha'im recorded in the Torah - "Lo Ye'aseh Kein bi'Mekomeinu" (Bereishis 29:26), "be'Eileh Tenagach es Aram" (Melachim 1 22:11). According to the Gra's Hagahah in the Sifri, R. Shimon ben Gamliel learns from our Pasuk and 9:1. 1
Perhaps this is because the Torah recorded also Sheker of the spies - "Lo Nuchal La'alos? ki Chazak Hu Mimenu" (Bamidbar 13:31). Only now that the Torah itself says so, we can learn also from the spies' words. (PF). See also Torah Temimah, note 35.
