Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Numbers 13:27/רמב"ן על במדבר י״ג:כ״ז
אוְגַם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הִוא – בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁצִּוָּה אוֹתָם לִרְאוֹת הַשְּׁמֵנָה הִיא אִם רָזָה, הֵשִׁיבוּ לוֹ כִּי הִיא שְׁמֵנָה וְגַם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הִיא. וְעַל שְׁאֵלָתוֹ הֲיֵשׁ בָּהּ עֵץ אִם אַיִן, הֵשִׁיבוּ לוֹ וְזֶה פִּרְיָהּ, כִּי כֵן צִוָּה אוֹתָם לְהַרְאוֹתוֹ. וְהִנֵּה בְּכָל זֶה אָמְרוּ אֱמֶת וְהֵשִׁיבוּ עַל מַה שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ, וְהָיָה לָהֶם לֵאמֹר שֶׁהָעָם הַיּוֹשֵׁב עָלֶיהָ עַז וְהֶעָרִים בְּצוּרוֹת, כִּי יֵשׁ לָהֶם לְהָשִׁיב אִמְרֵי אֱמֶת לְשׁוֹלְחָם, כִּי כֵן צִוָּה אוֹתָם "הֶחָזָק הוּא הֲרָפֶה", "הַבְּמַחֲנִים אִם בְּמִבְצָרִים". אֲבָל רִשְׁעָם בְּמִלַּת אֶפֶס, שֶׁהִיא מוֹרָה עַל דָּבָר אָפֵס וְנִמְנָע מִן הָאָדָם שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר בְּשׁוּם עִנְיָן, כִּלְשׁוֹן "הֶאָפֵס לָנֶצַח חַסְדּוֹ" (תהלים עז ט), "וְאֵין עוֹד אֶפֶס אֱלֹהִים" (ישעיהו מה יד). וְהִנֵּה אָמְרוּ לוֹ הָאָרֶץ שְׁמֵנָה וְגַם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ וְהַפְּרִי טוֹב, אֲבָל אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם כִּי עַז הָעָם וְהֶעָרִים בְּצוּרוֹת גְּדֹלוֹת מְאֹד, וְגַם יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק רָאִינוּ שָׁם:
1AND SURELY IT FLOWETH WITH MILK AND HONEY. Since Moses had commanded them to see what the Land is, whether it is fat or lean24 the spies reported to him that it is fat, and surely it floweth with milk and honey. And in answer to his question whether there are trees therein or not24 they reported to him, and this is its fruit52 for so he had commanded them, to show it to him.24 Now in all this they said the truth, and gave a report about those matters which they had been commanded [to find out],53 therefore they should [indeed] have said [as in fact they did] that the people that dwell in the Land are fierce and the cities are fortified;53 for it was their duty to bring back words of truth to them that sent them,54 and Moses had commanded them [to see] whether they are strong or weak,55 [and what cities they are that they dwell in], whether in camps, or in strongholds.56 But the wickedness of the spies consisted in saying the word ephes [“nevertheless” — ‘Nevertheless’ the people that dwell in the Land are fierce],53 which signifies something negative and beyond human capability, something impossible of achievement, under any circumstances, similar to the expressions: ‘Ha’aphes’ lanetzach chasdo (Is His mercy ‘clean gone’ for ever?);57 and there is none else; ‘ephes’ (there is no other) G-d.58 Thus the spies told Moses that the Land is fertile and surely it floweth with milk and honey53 and the fruits are good, but it is impossible to fight against the people because they are fierce, and the cities are fortified, and very great; and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.53