What are the implications of the phrase "Efes ki Az ha'Am"?
Ramban and Seforno: It negates 1 everything they said up to now; it implies that, in spite of having corroborated Moshe's praise of the land, it was impossible to capture it 2 - because 'the people are strong, the cities are fortified and the children of Anak live there'. 3
Ramban: Because such are the implications of the word "Efes" ('but'), as we find in Tehilim, 77:9, and in Yeshayah, 45:14.
Ramban (on Pasuk 2): Which explains why Calev interrupted them already at this point.
It is the job of witnesses to present the facts, not to make tactical decisions, and the spies were sent to testify about the land and its inhabitants, not to offrt their opinions as to whether it was posible conquer it or not. See Oznayim la'Torah
What is the meaning of "Betzuros"?
Rashi #1: It means 'strong'.
Rashi #2 (citing Targum Onkelos) and Targum Yonasan: It means 'round'. 1
Rashi #3 (in Pasuk 18): Refer to 13:18:2:1.
Rashi: Perhaps it was customary that only round cities were surounded by a wall. See also Seifer ha'Aruch on the word 'K'rach'.)
Why is "Yelidei ha'Anak" written Chaser (missing a Yud)?
Pane'ach Raza: It is the feminine form, like 'Yaldah' - with reference to a Cana'ani girl had had eaten a pomegranate and discarded the peel. The spies thought that it was a cave, and hid in it. The girl, afraid that her father would see the peel and realize that she ate the pomegranate, she threw it (with the Meraglim inside) outside the orchard. And the spies were amazed at her strength (Pitron Torah 155).
