Chapter 13

1The Lord spoke to Moses saying,   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2"Send out for yourself men who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel. You shall send one man each for his father's tribe; each one shall be a chieftain in their midst."   בשְׁלַח לְךָ֣ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְיָתֻ֨רוּ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָד֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד לְמַטֵּ֤ה אֲבֹתָיו֙ תִּשְׁלָ֔חוּ כֹּ֖ל נָשִׂ֥יא בָהֶֽם:
Send for yourself men: Why is the section dealing with the spies juxtaposed with the section dealing with Miriam? Because she was punished over matters of slander, for speaking against her brother, and these wicked people witnessed [it], but did not learn their lesson. — [Midrash Tanchuma Shelach 5]   שְׁלַח לְךָ אֲנָשִׁים: לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָרָשַׁת מְרַגְּלִים לְפָרָשַׁת מִרְיָם? לְפִי שֶׁלָּקְתָה עַל עִסְקֵי דִבָּה, שֶׁדִּבְּרָה בְאָחִיהָ, וּרְשָׁעִים הַלָּלוּ רָאוּ וְלֹא לָקְחוּ מוּסָר (תנחומא):
Send for yourself: According to your own understanding. I am not commanding you, but if you wish, you may send. Since the Israelites had come [to Moses] and said, “Let us send men ahead of us,” as it says, “All of you approached me…” (Deut. 1:22), Moses took counsel with the Shechinah . He [God] said, “I told them that it is good, as it says, ‘I will bring you up from the affliction of Egypt…’ (Exod. 3:17). By their lives! Now I will give them the opportunity to err through the words of the spies, so that they will not inherit it.” - [Midrash Tanchuma 5]   שְׁלַח לְךָ: לְדַעְתְּךָ, אֲנִי אֵינִי מְצַוֶּה לְךָ, אִם תִּרְצֶה שְׁלַח; לְפִי שֶׁבָּאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמְרוּ נִשְׁלְחָה אֲנָשִׁים לְפָנֵינוּ, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם" וְגוֹ' (דברים א'), וּמֹשֶׁה נִמְלַךְ בִּשְׁכִינָה, אָמַר, אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם" וְגוֹ' (שמות ג'), חַיֵּיהֶם שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָהֶם מָקוֹם לִטְעוֹת בְּדִבְרֵי מְרַגְּלִים, לְמַעַן לֹא יִירָשׁוּהָ (תנחומא):
3So Moses sent them from the desert of Paran by the word of the Lord. All of them were men of distinction; they were the heads of the children of Israel.   גוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אֹתָ֥ם משֶׁ֛ה מִמִּדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָ֖ן עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כֻּלָּ֣ם אֲנָשִׁ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽמָּה:
by the word of the Lord: With his consent; He did not stop him.   עַל־פִּי ה': בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא עִכֵּב עַל יָדוֹ:
All of them were men of distinction: Whenever [the word] אִנָשִׁים [is used] in Scripture, it denotes importance. At that time, they were virtuous. — [Mid. Tanchuma 4]   כֻּלָּם אֲנָשִׁים: כָּל אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְשׁוֹן חֲשִׁיבוּת, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה כְּשֵׁרִים הָיוּ:
4These are their names: For the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zakkur.   דוְאֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמוֹתָ֑ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֔ן שַׁמּ֖וּעַ בֶּן־זַכּֽוּר:
5For the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.   הלְמַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֔וֹן שָׁפָ֖ט בֶּן־חוֹרִֽי:
6For the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jepphunneh.   ולְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה כָּלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּֽה:
7For the tribe of Issachar, Yigal the son of Joseph.   זלְמַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר יִגְאָ֖ל בֶּן־יוֹסֵֽף:
8For the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.   חלְמַטֵּ֥ה אֶפְרָ֖יִם הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נֽוּן:
9For the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.   טלְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן פַּלְטִ֖י בֶּן־רָפֽוּא:
10For the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.   ילְמַטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֔ן גַּדִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־סוֹדִֽי:
11For the tribe of Joseph, for the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.   יאלְמַטֵּ֥ה יוֹסֵ֖ף לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּדִּ֖י בֶּן־סוּסִֽי:
12For the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.   יבלְמַטֵּ֣ה דָ֔ן עַמִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־גְּמַלִּֽי:
13For the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.   יגלְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֔ר סְת֖וּר בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵֽל:
14For the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.   ידלְמַטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֔י נַחְבִּ֖י בֶּן־וָפְסִֽי:
15For the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.   טולְמַטֵּ֣ה גָ֔ד גְּאוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־מָכִֽי:
16These are the names of the men Moses sent to scout the Land, and Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.   טזאֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח משֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א משֶׁ֛ה לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ:
And Moses called Hoshea…: He prayed on his behalf, “May God save you from the counsel of the spies.” [The name יְהוֹשֻׁעַ is a compounded form of יָהּ יוֹשִׁיעֲךָ, May God save you.]- [Sotah 34b]   וַיִּקְרָא משֶׁה לְהוֹשֵׁעַ וגו': הִתְפַּלֵּל עָלָיו יָהּ יוֹשִׁיעֲךָ מֵעֲצַת מְרַגְּלִים (סוטה ל"ד):
17Moses sent them to scout the Land of Canaan, and he said to them, "Go up this way in the south and climb up the mountain.   יזוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֹתָם֙ משֶׁ֔ה לָת֖וּר אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם עֲל֥וּ זֶה֙ בַּנֶּ֔גֶב וַֽעֲלִיתֶ֖ם אֶת־הָהָֽר:
Go up this way in the south: This was the inferior part of the Land of Israel. This is the custom of merchants; they show their inferior goods first and afterward display their best. — [Midrash Tanchuma 6]   עֲלוּ זֶה בַּנֶּגֶב: הוּא הָיָה הַפְּסֹלֶת שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַתַּגָּרִים מַרְאִין אֶת הַפְּסֹלֶת תְּחִלָּה, וְאֲחַר כַּךְ מַרְאִים אֶת הַשֶּׁבַח (תנחומא):
18You shall see what [kind of] land it is, and the people who inhabit it; are they strong or weak? Are there few or many?   יחוּרְאִיתֶ֥ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ מַה־הִ֑וא וְאֶת־הָעָם֙ הַיּשֵׁ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ הֶֽחָזָ֥ק הוּא֙ הֲרָפֶ֔ה הַמְעַ֥ט ה֖וּא אִם־רָֽב:
what [kind of] land it is: Some countries rear strong people, and some countries rear weak [people]; some produce large populations and some small populations. — [Mid. Tanchuma 6]   אֶת־הָאָרֶץ מַה־הִוא: יֵשׁ אֶרֶץ מְגַדֶּלֶת גִּבּוֹרִים וְיֵשׁ אֶרֶץ מְגַדֶּלֶת חַלָּשִׁים, יֵשׁ מְגַדֶּלֶת אֻכְלוּסִין וְיֵשׁ מְמַעֶטֶת אֻכְלוּסִין:
are they strong or weak: He gave them a sign. If they live in open cities [it is a sign that] they are strong, since they rely on their might. And if they live in fortified cities [it is a sign that] they are weak. — [Mid. Tanchuma 6]   הֶֽחָזָק הִוא הֲרָפֶה: סִימָן מָסַר לָהֶם: אִם בִּפְרָזִים יוֹשְׁבִין, חֲזָקִים הֵם, שֶׁסּוֹמְכִין עַל גְּבוּרָתָם, וְאִם בְּעָרִים בְּצוּרוֹת הֵם יוֹשְׁבִין חַלָּשִׁים הֵם (שם):
19And what of the land they inhabit? Is it good or bad? And what of the cities in which they reside are they in camps or in fortresses?   יטוּמָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־הוּא֙ ישֵׁ֣ב בָּ֔הּ הֲטוֹבָ֥ה הִ֖וא אִם־רָעָ֑ה וּמָ֣ה הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־הוּא֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּהֵ֔נָּה הַֽבְּמַֽחֲנִ֖ים אִ֥ם בְּמִבְצָרִֽים:
are they in camps: Heb. הַבְּמַחֲנִים, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, הַבְּפַצְחִין, cities which are exposed and open, unwalled.   הַֽבְּמַֽחֲנִים: תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "הַבְפַצְחִין", כְּרַכִּין פְּצוּחִין וּפְתוּחִין מֵאֵין חוֹמָה:
is it good: possessing springs and other good and healthy water sources.   הֲטוֹבָה הוּא: בְּמַעְיָנוֹת וּתְהוֹמוֹת טוֹבִים וּבְרִיאִים:
20What is the soil like is it fat or lean? Are there any trees in it or not? You shall be courageous and take from the fruit of the land." It was the season when the first grapes begin to ripen.   כוּמָ֣ה הָ֠אָ֠רֶץ הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה הִ֜וא אִם־רָזָ֗ה הֲיֵֽשׁ־בָּ֥הּ עֵץ֙ אִם־אַ֔יִן וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם מִפְּרִ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים יְמֵ֖י בִּכּוּרֵ֥י עֲנָבִֽים:
does it have trees: Heb. הִיֵשׁ בָּהּ עֵץ, lit,. does it have a tree. Does it have a worthy man who will protect them with his merit. - [B.B. 15a]   הֲיֵֽשׁ־בָּהּ עֵץ: אִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם אָדָם כָּשֵׁר שֶׁיָּגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם בִּזְכוּתוֹ (עי' בבא בתרא ט"ו):
when the first grapes begin to ripen: The season in which the grapes begin to ripen, in their first stage of growth.   בִּכּוּרֵי עֲנָבִֽים: יָמִים שֶׁהָעֲנָבִים מִתְבַּשְּׁלִין בְּבִכּוּר:
21So they went up and explored the land, from the desert of Zin until Rehov, at the entrance to Hamath.   כאוַיַּֽעֲל֖וּ וַיָּתֻ֣רוּ אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִמִּדְבַּר־צִ֥ן עַד־רְחֹ֖ב לְבֹ֥א חֲמָֽת:
from the desert of Zin until Rehov at the entrance to Hamath: They walked along the length and width of its borders, [so that their path looked] like a [Greek] gamma. They walked along the side which was the southern border, from the eastern corner to the western corner, as Moses had directed them: “Go up this way in the south”-by way of the southeastern border until the sea, for the sea was its western border. From there they turned and walked along the entire western border, which is the coast, until the entrance to Hamath, which is near Mount Hor, in the northwestern corner, as is described in the borders of the Land in the portion [beginning with the words,] “These are the travels” (34:6).   מִמִּדְבַּר־צִן עַד־רְחֹב לְבֹא חֲמָֽת: הָלְכוּ בִגְבוּלֶיהָ בְאֹרֶךְ וּבְרֹחַב כְּמִין גַּ"ם, הָלְכוּ רוּחַ גְּבוּל דְּרוֹמִית מִמִּקְצוֹעַ מִזְרָח עַד מִקְצוֹעַ מַעֲרָב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֲלוּ זֶה בַנֶּגֶב — דֶּרֶךְ גְּבוּל דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית עַד הַיָּם — שֶׁהַיָּם הוּא גְבוּל מַעֲרָבִי, וּמִשָּׁם חָזְרוּ וְהָלְכוּ כָּל גְּבוּל מַעֲרָבִי עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם עַד לְבֹא חֲמָת, שֶׁהוּא אֵצֶל הֹר הָהָר בְּמִקְצוֹעַ מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בִּגְבוּלוֹת הָאָרֶץ בְּפָרָשַׁת אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי:
22They went up in, the south, and he came to Hebron, and there were Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of the giant. Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan of Egypt.   כבוַיַּֽעֲל֣וּ בַנֶּ֘גֶב֘ וַיָּבֹ֣א עַד־חֶבְרוֹן֒ וְשָׁ֤ם אֲחִימָן֙ שֵׁשַׁ֣י וְתַלְמַ֔י יְלִידֵ֖י הָֽעֲנָ֑ק וְחֶבְר֗וֹן שֶׁ֤בַע שָׁנִים֙ נִבְנְתָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י צֹ֥עַן מִצְרָֽיִם:
and he came to Hebron: Caleb went there alone [hence the singular “he came”] to prostrate himself on the graves of the patriarchs [in prayer] that he not be enticed by his colleagues to be part of their counsel. Thus, it says, “I will give him [Caleb] the land on which he has walked” (Deut. 1:36), and it is written, “They gave Hebron to Caleb” (Jud. 1:20). - [Sotah 34b]   וַיָּבֹא עַד־חֶבְרוֹן: כָּלֵב לְבַדּוֹ הָלַךְ שָׁם וְנִשְׁתַּטֵּחַ עַל קִבְרֵי אָבוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא נִסָּת לַחֲבֵרָיו לִהְיוֹת בַּעֲצָתָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים א'), "וְלוֹ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר דָּרַךְ בָּהּ", וּכְתִיב (שופטים א') "וַיִּתְּנוּ לְכָלֵב אֶת חֶבְרוֹן" (סוטה ל"ד):
had been built seven years: Is it possible that Ham built Hebron for Canaan, his youngest son, before he built Zoan for Mizraim, his eldest son? Rather, it was stocked with everything good, seven times more than Zoan. The intention is to inform you of the excellence of the Land of Israel, for there is no place in the Land of Israel rockier than Hebron, which was why it was designated for a burial ground. And there is no country in the world as excellent as Egypt, as it says, “it was like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt” (Gen. 13: 10). Zoan is the best part of Egypt, for the residence of the kings is situated there, as it says, “for his princes were in Zoan” (Isa. 30:4). Yet Hebron was superior to it seven times over. — [Sotah 34b]   שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים נִבְנְתָה: אֶפְשַׁר שֶׁבָּנָה חָם אֶת חֶבְרוֹן לִכְנַעַן בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָן קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּבְנֶה אֶת צֹעַן לְמִצְרַיִם בְּנוֹ הַגָּדוֹל? אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה מְבֻנָּה בְּכָל טוּב עַל אֶחָד מִשִּׁבְעָה בְצֹעַן, וּבָא לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שִׁבְחָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ טְרָשִׁין בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מֵחֶבְרוֹן — לְפִיכָךְ הִקְצוּהָ לְקִבְרוֹת מֵתִים — וְאֵין לְךָ מְעֻלָּה בְּכָל הָאֲרָצוֹת כְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כְּגַן ה' כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם" (בראשית י"ג), וְצֹעַן הִיא הַמְעֻלָּה שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁשָּׁם מוֹשַׁב הַמְּלָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי הָיוּ בְצֹעַן שָׂרָיו" (ישעיהו ל'), וְהָיְתָה חֶבְרוֹן טוֹבָה מִמֶּנָּה שִׁבְעָה חֲלָקִים (סוטה ל"ד; כתובות קי"ב):
23They came to the Valley of Eshkol and they cut a branch with a cluster of grapes. They carried it on a pole between two [people] and [they also took] some pomegranates and figs.   כגוַיָּבֹ֜אוּ עַד־נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכֹּ֗ל וַיִּכְרְת֨וּ מִשָּׁ֤ם זְמוֹרָה֙ וְאֶשְׁכּ֤וֹל עֲנָבִים֙ אֶחָ֔ד וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֥הוּ בַמּ֖וֹט בִּשְׁנָ֑יִם וּמִן־הָֽרִמֹּנִ֖ים וּמִן־הַתְּאֵנִֽים:
a branch: A vine branch with a cluster of grapes hanging on it.   זְמוֹרָה: שׂוֹכַת גֶּפֶן, וְאֶשְׁכּוֹל שֶׁל עֲנָבִים תָּלוּי בָּהּ:
They carried it on a pole between two [people]: From the implication of what it says “they carried [in the plural] it on a pole” do I not know that it was [carried] by two? So what does “[between] two” tell us? [The answer is:] With two poles. How was it done? Eight of them took a cluster [of grapes], one took a fig and one took a pomegranate. Joshua and Caleb did not take anything, for the intention of the others was to present a slanderous report, [namely,] just as its fruit is extraordinary, so its people are extraordinary. If you wish to know how much one of them carried, go forth and learn from the stones they set up at Gilgal: Each man carried on his shoulder one stone [from the Jordan] and set it up at Gilgal. The Sages weighed them [and determined that] each stone weighed forty seah, and it is a fact that the load a person can carry on his shoulders is only a third of the weight of the load he can carry when others help him lift it. — [Sotah 34a]   וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ בַמּוֹט בִּשְׁנָיִם: מִמַּשְׁמַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ בַמּוֹט" אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא בִשְׁנַיִם? מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "בִּשְׁנָיִם"? בִּשְׁנֵי מוֹטוֹת. הָא כֵיצַד? שְׁמוֹנָה נָטְלוּ אֶשְׁכּוֹל, אֶחָד נָטַל תְּאֵנָה וְאֶחָד רִמּוֹן; יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב לֹא נָטְלוּ כְלוּם, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל עַצְמָם לְהוֹצִיא דִּבָּה נִתְכַּוְּנוּ — כְּשֵׁם שֶׁפִּרְיָהּ מְשֻׁנֶּה כָּךְ עַמָּהּ מְשֻׁנֶּה; וְאִם חָפֵץ אַתָּה לֵידַע כַּמָּה מַשּׂאוֹי אֶחָד מֵהֶם, צֵא וּלְמַד מֵאֲבָנִים שֶׁהֵקִימוּ בַּגִּלְגָּל — הֵרִימוּ לָהֶם אִיש אֶבֶן אַחַת מִן הַיַּרְדֵן עַל שִׁכְמוֹ וֶהֱקִימוּהָ בַּגִּלְגָּל (יהושע ד') — וּשְׁקָלוּם רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִשְׁקַל כָּל אַחַת אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה, וּגְמִירֵי טוּנָא דְּמִידְלֵי אֱינַשׁ עַל כַּתְפֵּיהּ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שְׁלִישׁ מַשּׂאוֹי כַּמַּשּׂאוֹי שֶׁמְּסַיְּעִין אוֹתוֹ לְהָרִים (סוטה ל"ד):
24They called that place the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster [eshkol] the children of Israel cut from there.   כדלַמָּק֣וֹם הַה֔וּא קָרָ֖א נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹל עַ֚ל אֹד֣וֹת הָאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל אֲשֶׁר־כָּֽרְת֥וּ מִשָּׁ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
25They returned from scouting the Land at the end of forty days.   כהוַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ מִתּ֣וּר הָאָ֑רֶץ מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים יֽוֹם:
They returned from scouting the Land at the end of forty days: But does not the Land measure four hundred parasangs by four hundred parasangs [a parasang is equivalent to about three-and-a-half miles in length], and an average person’s daily traveling distance is ten parasangs? Thus, it takes forty days to walk from east to west, and they traversed its length and its breadth? However, since it was revealed before the Holy One, blessed is He, that He would sentence them with a year for every day, he shortened the way [so they covered ground more rapidly]. — [Mid. Tanchuma 8]   וַיָּשֻׁבוּ מִתּוּר הָאָרֶץ מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים יֽוֹם: וַהֲלֹא אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָה עַל אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָה הִיא, וּמַהֲלַךְ אָדָם בֵּינוֹנִי עֶשֶׂר פַּרְסָאוֹת לַיּוֹם, הֲרֵי מַהֲלַךְ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם מִן הַמִּזְרָח לַמַּעֲרָב — וְהֵם הָלְכוּ אָרְכָּהּ וְרָחְבָּהּ? אֶלָּא שֶׁגָּלוּי לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁיִּגְזֹר עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה, קִצֵּר לִפְנֵיהֶם אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ (שם):
26They went, and they came to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the desert of Paran, to Kadesh. They brought them back a report, as well as to the entire congregation, and they showed them the fruit of the land.   כווַיֵּֽלְכ֡וּ וַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ אֶל־משֶׁ֨ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־מִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָ֖ן קָדֵ֑שָׁה וַיָּשִׁ֨יבוּ אֹתָ֤ם דָּבָר֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּרְא֖וּם אֶת־פְּרִ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ:
They went, and they came: What is meant by“They went”? [It says already that they returned.] To compare their going with their coming. Just as their return was with evil intent, so was their departure [on the journey] with evil intent. — [Sotah 35a]   וַיֵּֽלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ: מַהוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ? לְהַקִּישׁ הֲלִיכָתָן לְבִיאָתָן, מַה בִּיאָתָן בְּעֵצָה רָעָה אַף הֲלִיכָתָן בְּעֵצָה רָעָה (שם ל"ה):
They brought them back a report: To Moses and Aaron.   וַיָּשִׁיבוּ אֹתָם דָּבָר: אֶת מֹשֶׁה וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן:
27They told him and said, "We came to the land to which you sent us, and it is flowing with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.   כזוַיְסַפְּרוּ־לוֹ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ בָּ֕אנוּ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁלַחְתָּ֑נוּ וְ֠גַ֠ם זָבַ֨ת חָלָ֥ב וּדְבַ֛שׁ הִ֖וא וְזֶה־פִּרְיָֽהּ:
flowing with milk and honey: Any lie in which a little truth is not stated in the beginning cannot be maintained in the end. — [Sotah 35a]   זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הִוא: כָּל דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים בּוֹ קְצָת אֱמֶת בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ, אֵין מִתְקַיֵּם בְּסוֹפוֹ:
28However, the people who inhabit the land are mighty, and the cities are extremely huge and fortified, and there we saw even the offspring of the giant.   כחאֶ֚פֶס כִּי־עַ֣ז הָעָ֔ם הַיּשֵׁ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים בְּצֻר֤וֹת גְּדֹלֹת֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְגַם־יְלִדֵ֥י הָֽעֲנָ֖ק רָאִ֥ינוּ שָֽׁם:
fortified: Heb. בְּצֻרוֹת, an expression denoting strength.The Targum [Onkelos], however, renders, כְּרִיכָן, a term meaning circular fortresses; in Aramaic כְּרִיךְ means “circular.” - [See Aruch, first definition of כרך‏]   בְּצֻרוֹת: לְשׁוֹן חֹזֶק, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "כְּרִיכַן", לְשׁוֹן בִּירָנִיּוֹת עֲגֻלּוֹת, וּבְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי כְּרִיךְ עָגוֹל:
29The Amalekites dwell in the south land, while the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountainous region. The Canaanites dwell on the coast and alongside the Jordan."   כטעֲמָלֵ֥ק יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַנֶּ֑גֶב וְ֠הַֽחִתִּ֠י וְהַיְבוּסִ֤י וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּהָ֔ר וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל־הַיָּ֔ם וְעַ֖ל יַ֥ד הַיַּרְדֵּֽן:
The Amalekites dwell: Since they had already been “burnt” by Amalek [as it were,] the spies mentioned it in order to frighten them. — [Mid. Tanchuma 9]   עֲמָלֵק יוֹשֵׁב וגו': לְפִי שֶׁנִּכְווּ בַּעֲמָלֵק כְּבָר, הִזְכִּירוּהוּ מְרַגְּלִים כְּדֵי לְיָרְאָם (תנחומא):
and alongside the Jordan: Heb. וְעַל יַד הַיַּרְדֵּן. [The word] יַד is [used] in its literal sense, next to the Jordan, so that you will be unable to cross.   וְעַל יַד הַיַּרְדֵּֽן: יָד כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, אֵצֶל הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְלֹא תוּכְלוּ לַעֲבֹר:
30Caleb silenced the people to [hear about] Moses, and he said, "We can surely go up and take possession of it, for we can indeed overcome it."   לוַיַּ֧הַס כָּלֵ֛ב אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עָלֹ֤ה נַֽעֲלֶה֙ וְיָרַ֣שְׁנוּ אֹתָ֔הּ כִּֽי־יָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל לָֽהּ:
Caleb silenced: Heb. וַיַּהַס, he silenced them all [the spies so that the people could hear what he was going to say].   וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב: הִשְׁתִּיק אֶת כֻּלָּם:
to Moses: to hear what he would say about Moses. He cried out, “Is this the only thing the son of Amram has done to us?” Anyone listening might have thought that he intended to disparage him, and since there was [resentment] in their hearts against Moses because of the spies’ report, they all became silent so they could hear his defamation. But he said, “Didn’t he split the sea for us, bring down the manna for us and cause the quails to fly down to us?” - [Sotah 35a]   אֶל־משֶׁה: לִשְׁמֹעַ מַה שֶּׁיְּדַבֵּר בְּמֹשֶׁה, צָוַח וְאָמַר "וְכִי זוֹ בִּלְבַד עָשָׂה לָנוּ בֶן עַמְרָם?" הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ הָיָה סָבוּר שֶׁבָּא לְסַפֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ, וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהָיָה בְלִבָּם עַל מֹשֶׁה בִּשְׁבִיל דִּבְרֵי הַמְרַגְּלִים, שָׁתְקוּ כֻלָּם לִשְׁמֹעַ גְּנוּתוֹ, אָמַר "וַהֲלֹא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם וְהוֹרִיד לָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן וְהֵגִיז לָנוּ אֶת הַשְּׂלָו":
We can surely go up: even to heaven; if he tells us,“Make ladders and go up there,” we will succeed in whatever he says. — [Sotah 35a]   עָלֹה נַֽעֲלֶה: אֲפִלּוּ בַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר עֲשׂוּ סֻלָּמוֹת וַעֲלוּ שָׁם, נַצְלִיחַ בְּכָל דְּבָרָיו (סוטה ל"ה):
silenced: Heb. וַיַּהַס, a term denoting silence; similarly, “Silence (הַס) all flesh” (Zech. 2:17); “’Still (הַס)! This is for not mentioning [the Lord’s Name]’” (Amos. 6:10). Similarly, it is the custom for someone who wants to silence a group to say, “Shhh!”   וַיַּהַס: לְשׁוֹן שְׁתִיקָה, וְכֵן "הַס כָּל בָּשָׂר" (זכריה ב'), "הַס כִּי לֹא לְהַזְכִּיר" (עמוס ו'), כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם, הָרוֹצֶה לְשַׁתֵּק אֲגֻדַּת אֲנָשִׁים אוֹמֵר "שי"ט":
31But the men who went up with him said, "We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.   לאוְהָ֨אֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־עָל֤וּ עִמּוֹ֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לַֽעֲל֣וֹת אֶל־הָעָ֑ם כִּֽי־חָזָ֥ק ה֖וּא מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
for they are stronger than we: Heb. מִמֶּנּוּ, [which may also be interpreted as, they are stronger than he.] They said this in reference to the most High, as it were, [as if to say that the people are stronger than He. — [Sotah 35a]   חָזָק הוּא מִמֶּֽנּוּ: כִּבְיָכוֹל כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה אָמְרוּ (סוטה כ"ה):
32They spread an [evil] report about the land which they had scouted, telling the children of Israel, "The land we passed through to explore is a land that consumes its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of stature.   לבוַיֹּצִ֜יאוּ דִּבַּ֤ת הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּר֣וּ אֹתָ֔הּ אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הָאָ֡רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ עָבַ֨רְנוּ בָ֜הּ לָת֣וּר אֹתָ֗הּ אֶ֣רֶץ אֹכֶ֤לֶת יֽוֹשְׁבֶ֨יהָ֙ הִ֔וא וְכָל־הָעָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֥ינוּ בְתוֹכָ֖הּ אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִדּֽוֹת:
consumes its inhabitants: Wherever we passed, we found them burying dead. The Holy One, blessed is He, intended this for good, to keep them occupied with their mourning so they should not notice them [the spies]. — [Sotah 35a]   אֹכֶלֶת יֽוֹשְׁבֶיהָ: בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁעָבַרְנוּ מְצָאנוּם קוֹבְרֵי מֵתִים, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָשָׂה לְטוֹבָה, כְּדֵי לְטָרְדָם בְּאֶבְלָם וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ לֵב לָאֵלּוּ:
men of stature: Big and tall, those to whom measurements are attributed [because of their unusual size], such as Goliath [about whom it says] “his height was six cubits and a span” (I Sam. 17:4); similarly, “a man of great stature (מָדוֹן)” (II Sam. 21:20); “a man of stature (מִדָּה)” (I Chron. 11:23).   אַנְשֵׁי מִדּֽוֹת: גְּדוֹלִים וּגְבוֹהִים, וְצָרִיךְ לָתֵת לָהֶם מִדָּה, כְּגוֹן גָּלְיָת "גָּבְהוֹ שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזָרֶת" (שמואל א י"ז), וְכֵן "אִישׁ מָדוֹן" (שמואל ב כ"א), "אִישׁ מִדָּה" (מלכים א י"א):
33There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, descended from the giants. In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.   לגוְשָׁ֣ם רָאִ֗ינוּ אֶת־הַנְּפִילִ֛ים בְּנֵ֥י עֲנָ֖ק מִן־הַנְּפִלִ֑ים וַנְּהִ֤י בְעֵינֵ֨ינוּ֙ כַּֽחֲגָבִ֔ים וְכֵ֥ן הָיִ֖ינוּ בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם:
the giants: Heb. נְפִילִים, giants, descended from Shamhazai (Nidah 61a) and Azael (Yoma 67b), who fell (שֶׁנָּפְלוּ) from heaven in the generation of Enosh.   הַנְּפִילִים: עֲנָקִים, מִבְּנֵי שַׁמְחָזַאי וַעֲזָאֵל שֶׁנָּפְלוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּימֵי דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ:
and so we were in their eyes: We heard them telling each other, “There are ants in the vineyard who look like people.” - [Sotah 35a]   וְכֵן הָיִינוּ בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם: שָׁמַעְנוּ אוֹמְרִים זֶה לָזֶה, נְמָלִים יֵשׁ בַּכְּרָמִים כַּאֲנָשִׁים (סוטה ל"ה):
Anak: [The name עִנָק is given] because the sun was draped around the neck מַעֲנִיקִים because of their height. — [Sotah 34b]   עֲנָק: שֶׁמַּעֲנִיקִים חַמָּה בְּקוֹמָתָן (שם ל"ד):