Not to question the Torah (Chas V’shalom), I was wondering, why are these minim so special? Specifically the figs, pomegranates and dates. In what way are they better than other fruits? Personally speaking I don’t enjoy pomegranates.
I ask because the Rambam says that shiphon and shibbolet shual are types of ?????. Those are translated as rye and oats respectively, neither of which are a kind of barley. So either we’re translating s’ora wrong, or the other two. Also, oats are not indigenous to Eretz Yisrael.
The most knowledgable people on the topic of identification of plants from Tanach are probably Professor Yehudah Felix and Professor Mordechai Kislev. Professor Kislev is accessible, unfortunately Prof. Felix passed away a few years ago and is accessible only through his many writings.