Exodus 3:8

Bring them up. Literally “up,” for that part of Palestine which they were to occupy lies at a much higher level than Egypt. Biblical writers were careful to indicate such differences in elevation by such expressions as “going up” or “going down” (see Gen. 12:10; 13:1; 37:25; 39:1; 42:2; 46:3, 4; 50:25).

A good land. The land to which the Israelites were to be taken “up” is called a “good land” on account of its great fertility (see Deut. 8:7-9), and “large” in contrast with the land of Goshen. Even though the fertility of Palestine did not equal that of Egypt, it was still great. The rich soil east of the Jordan produces enormous crops of grain in the spring and provides pasturage throughout the year. The western region is less productive, but when carefully cultivated bears excellent crops of olives, figs, and barley. From a modern point of view Canaan seems a small country, being not much larger than the State of Vermont in the United States and somewhat smaller than Belgium in Europe. But to the Israelites of the time of Moses it seemed spacious, being considerably larger than the entire Delta region of Egypt, of which they had occupied but a small part. The land promised in the covenant God made with Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21) and actually possessed by David and Solomon (1 Kings 4:21) included not only Palestine but a considerable area of Syria as well (see The Great Empires During the Sojourn in Egypt).

A land flowing with milk and honey. Used here for the first time but common in later books (Num. 13:27; Deut. 26:15; 31:20; Jer. 11:5; 32:22; Eze. 20:6; etc.), this was a proverbial expression for a land of plenty, and should not be pressed for a precisely literal meaning. It was intended as a figurative description of the great fertility and natural loveliness of the land of Canaan. Milk and honey are the simplest and choicest productions of a land abounding in grass and flowers, and were found in Palestine in great abundance.

The place of the Canaanites. For an explanation of the origin and history of the different nations mentioned, see on Gen. 10:15-17. The enumeration of the nations of Palestine here made is incomplete, only five of the ten whose land was promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:19-21) being expressly mentioned. One, however, that of the Hivites, is added. It is possible that they had succeeded the Kenizzites or the Kadmonites of Abraham’s time.