Numbers 13:23

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.

Numbers 32:9

32:9 When ²  they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter ³  the land that the Lord had given ⁴  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.

[32:9]  ² tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the parallel yet chronologically later verb in the next clause.

[32:9]  ³ tn The infinitive construct here with lamed (ל) is functioning as a result clause.

[32:9]  ⁴ 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.