Numbers 13:23-24

13:23 When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff ¹  between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs. 13:24 That place was called ²  the Eshcol Valley, ³  because of the cluster ⁴  of grapes that the Israelites cut from there.

Numbers 32:9

32:9 When ⁵  they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter ⁶  the land that the Lord had given ⁷  them.

[13:23]  ¹ tn The word is related etymologically to the verb for “slip, slide, bend, totter.” This would fit the use very well. A pole that would not bend would be hard to use to carry things, but a pole or stave that was flexible would serve well.

[13:24]  ² tn The verb is rendered as a passive because there is no expressed subject.

[13:24]  ³ tn Or “Wadi Eshcol.” The translation “brook” is too generous; the Hebrew term refers to a river bed, a ravine or valley through which torrents of rain would rush in the rainy season; at other times it might be completely dry.

[13:24]  ⁴ tn The word “Eshcol” is drawn from the Hebrew expression concerning the “cluster of grapes.” The word is probably retained in the name Burj Haskeh, two miles north of Damascus.

[32:9]  ³ tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the parallel yet chronologically later verb in the next clause.

[32:9]  ⁴ tn The infinitive construct here with lamed (ל) is functioning as a result clause.

[32:9]  ⁵ tn The Lord had not given it yet, but was going to give it. Hence, the perfect should be classified as a perfect of resolve.