Genesis 43:11

do this Jacob yields, but, true to the character of a shrewd man of the world, he advises that the formidable Grand Vizier should be propitiated with a suitable present.

choice fruits The Hebrew word, zimrah, occurs only in this passage in the Pent. (cf. Amos 5:23): LXX καρποί = "fruits"; Lat. optimi fructus. The meaning is probable, though only conjectural. Some think that it may be from the Hebrew root zmr, "to make melody," cf. mizmôr, "a psalm": hence Targ. Onkelos, "What is praiseworthy in the land." It has been suggested that "the melody of the land" would mean "the produce of the land celebrated in song." Cf. Jeremiah 51:41.

vessels i.e. baggage, receptacles of various kinds, e.g. "sacks" (Genesis 42:25); cf. 1 Samuel 9:7.

balm See Genesis 37:25.

honey Possibly the material known in Syria and Palestine as dibs, which is the Arabian word for "grape juice boiled down to a syrup." The Hebrew word d'bash, however, means real "honey," and it is natural to suppose that a gift of real honey from the country would be a more acceptable offering to the Egyptian ruler. Cf. 1 Kings 14:3.

spicery and myrrh See Genesis 37:25.

nuts That is, pistachio nuts. The fruit of the pistacia vera, a rare tree in Palestine, regarded as a delicacy.