2) He makes creative use of the adjective 'good' (tob) to move the narrative forward, leading from the good proposal to lighten Moses's burden to its dramatic pairing with the adjective "evil" (ra') at the critical point of divine decision about those who rebelled against him:

You answered me, "What you propose to do [to share in the burden of caring for the people] is good (v14)

The idea [to send scouts to reconnoiter the land]
seems good to me, so I selected . . . (v23)

It is a good land that Yahweh our God is giving us (v25)

Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land (v35)

your children who do not yet know good from evil — they shall enter the land (v39)

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Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, rev., 2021