1)

What did Moshe mean when he said "ha'Shemeinah hi Im Razah"?

1.

Ramban #1 (citing the Ibn Ezra): He meant 'Does it produce grain and fruit'?

2.

Ramban #2: Even assuming that it is a good land (Refer to 13:19:1:3), there are some countries that produce luscious fruit 1 that require a lot of rain, raking and fertilizing, to prevent the fruit from drying-up, whereas others, which are inherently dry, produce dry fruits, 2 , which keep longer than their more juicy counterparts. 3

3.

Ramban #3 (citing Targum Onkelos 4 ): He instructed them to find out whether the people were inherently wealthy or whether they need to come on to their neighbors, in spite of the fact that the land is good.

4.

Ramban #4 (in Pasuk 22): He wanted the spies to inform the people how, in spite of the age of Chevron, 5 it was still producing such luscious fruit - how much more so cities that were built later.

5.

Seforno and Targum Onkelos 6 : He meant 'Is the land fertile or is it lean?' 7

6.

Rashbam: He meant that the spies should let Yisrael know that the land was flowing with milk and honey, as Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu had promised them. 8 7. Targum Yonasan: He meant 'Is the fruit luscious or meager'?


1

Such as sweet fruits, oil, dates and figs.

2

Such as various species of nuts, apples, carobs and forest-fruits.

3

Ramban: The former generally grow in the plains, the latter, in the mountains.

4

See answer #5.

5

Ramban: Refer to 13:22:4:2.

6

See answer #3.

7

Seforno: See Devarim 8:9.

8

Refer also to 13:20:3:1***.

2)

Why did Moshe add "asher Hu Yoshev bah" in the previous Pasuk, and omit it here?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because here he was referring to the natural state of the land - whether it is fertile of not - which is best guaged where nobody lives, whereas in the previous Pasuk he was referring to the state of the land after it has been tilled by its inhabitants. 1


1

See Oznayim la'Torah, Pasuk 19 and Pasuk 20 DH 'u'Mah ha'Aretz ... ' #1.

3)

Why did Moshe mention "ha'Aretz" three times - in Pesukim 18, 19 & 20?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: In Pasuk 18, with reference to the mountains (mentioned in Pasuk 17) - rocky terrain which is generally designated for sheperding sheep; in Pasuk 19, with reference to the fertile lowlands, which are designated for farming, and Pasuk 20, the deep valleys, which are near the sea,and which, due to the water tht flows into them from the mountains and to the sea-air, are the most fertile of all. 1


1

See Oznayim la'Torah, DH 'u'Mah ha'Aretz' #2, who elaborates.

4)

What did Moshe mean when he said "ha'Yesh bah Eitz Im Ayin"?

1.

Rashi: He asked whether there was a Tzadik 1 there whose merits would shield over the people. 2

2.

Seforno and Targum Yonasan: He was simply asking whether the land contained fruit-trees. 3

3.

Bava Basra, 15a: He instructed them to see whether the person whose years are (long) like a tree 4 and who shielded over his generation like a tree - with reference to Iyov 5 - was still alive.


1

Mizrachi: Because if it was a fat land, presumably, it had trees.

2

See answer #3.

3

Seforno: The vines, fig-trees, pomegranate-trees and oil-producing olive-trees and honey-date palms for which Eretz Yisrael is praised.

4

With reference to Tzadikim, about whom the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, 92:13 "Tzadik ka'Tamar Yifrach" - See Torah Temimah, note 5, citing Ta'anis 25b,

5

Bava Basra, Ibid.: About whom the Pasuk writes in Iyov, 1:1 "Ish Hayah be'Eretz Utz" (a play on the word "Eitz"). See Torah Temimah, note 5.

5)

What are the connotations of "Vehischazaktem u'Lekachtem mi'Peri ha'Aretz"?

1.

Ramban, Rashbam and Seforno #2: It means that they should strengthen themselves 1 and take some of the local fruit 2 to bring back with them to show the people. 3

2.

Seforno #1 and Targum Yonasan: It means that they should make a Chazakah on the land 4 by taking some of its fruit. 5

3.

Oznayim la'Torah: Moshe wanted them to bring back fruit of Eretz Yisrael, not only to show the people the amazing quality of the fruit, but also in order to take T'rumos and Ma'asros from it. 6


1

Ramban and Rashbam: To counter the fear that the Cana'anim would see them and accuse them of spying.

2

Seforno: Even though it was not yet fully ripe, Moshe presumed that it was sufficiently ripe and tasty to demonstrate the land's praiseworthiness and goodness.

3

Ramban (on Pasuk 2): Since Moshe's objective in sending the spies was for them to witness firsthand the praiseworthiness of Eretz Yisrael, and to reassure the people that the land was good to fill their hearts with joy and courage before embarking on the conquest of Cana'an. Refer also to 13:20:1:3.

4

To acquire it on behalf of Yisrael - See Na'ar Yonasan.

5

Seforno: The word also has connotations of strengthening themselves (Refer to 13:20:3:1).

6

See Oznayim la'Torah.

6)

What is the significance of the fact that the spies entered the land when the grapes begin to ripen?

1.

Rashbam: The Torah tells us this as an introduction to the bunch of grapes to which it refers in Pasuk 23. 1

2.

Targum Yonasan: Because grapes begin to ripen on the twenty-ninth of Sivan - to teach that the spies returned forty days later on the eighth of Av, 2 the day before the night of Tish'ah be'Av. 3


1

Refer also to 13:23:1:1.

2

See Peirush Yonasan. See also the Riva on Pasuk 25.

3

Refer to 14:1:2:1*.

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