As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
As the valleys are they spread forth, х kinchaaliym (H5158)] - as brooks or water-courses from the mountains.
As gardens by the river's side. The vegetable and floral productions in the East flourish best in gardens situated in the neighbourhood of a running stream, where they can be watered by artificial rills, or even be refreshed by the moist spray wafted by the breeze (cf. Isaiah 58:11).
As the trees of lign aloes, which the Lord hath planted. The reference is to trees which, stately in appearance and flourishing in vigorous productiveness, grew spontaneously, without the appliances of human art or culture (cf. Psalms 104:16). ['Achaaliym-plural, an aromatic shrub, Aquilaria agallocha, sweet-scented aloe, common in various parts of Eastern Asia, and familiar to Balaam as growing luxuriantly on the banks of his native Euphrates, the conical form of the tree suggesting an apt resemblance to a tent.] 'The words, "the river," with the aromatic plants, and the cedars on the waterside (cf. Ezekiel 31:4) (neither of these images being drawn from the scene before him), show that he was thinking of his own country' (Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine.' p. 293). The redundant imagery in this verse depicts the origin, rapid progress, and prosperity of Israel.