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3 ‎[1] AND WHY DOTH THE ETERNAL BRING US UNTO THIS LAND, TO FALL BY THE SWORD? OUR WIVES AND OUR LITTLE ONES WILL BE A PREY. They did not mention the false report [of the spies] about the Land, saying that *the Land miscarrieth* and is bad, because the people hid this statement [of the spies] from Moses, since the delegates themselves had not said so when they brought back word to him and to all the congregation, for Moses and Aaron would have testified against them that they spoke falsely. The spies themselves hid this from Moses, fully realizing that he knew the nature of the Land from Egypt and Midian which are near to it, as I have explained. Therefore the spies [only] told the people this evil report in their tents, in a secretive manner.
Now Moses said in the Book of Deuteronomy: *And they brought us back word, and said: ‘Good is the Land which the Eternal our G-d giveth unto us.’ Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Eternal your G-d*. The meaning thereof is that the spies did [indeed] tell Moses and Aaron and all the congregation that *the Land is good*, *and surely it floweth with milk and honey*, and the people rebelled against the commandment of the Eternal in not wanting to go up because of the statement [of the spies] that *the people that dwell in the Land are fierce* — for *G-d hath power to help, and to cast down*, as is stated clearly there, *The Eternal your G-d Who goeth before you, He shall fight for you*. Therefore, since there was nothing to deter them [in the Land itself] except for the strength of the people, they should have trusted in the Name of G-d, for *the battle is the Eternal’s*. And we do not have to say [as does Rashi] that Moses said this [*And ‘they’ brought us back word, and said*, ‘*Good is the Land* etc.’] only about Joshua and Caleb, for why should the people listen to two [spies] and not believe [the report of] the ten! Moreover it says there [in Deuteronomy 1: 23]: *and I took twelve men of you*, and it is with reference to [all twelve of] them that he [Moses] said, *and they brought us back word*.
Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI
License: CC-BY