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New American Standard Bible

Numbers 13:23

Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and from there they cut off a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Canaan;   Eshcol;   Fig;   Pomegranate;   Thompson Chain Reference - Agriculture-Horticulture;   Brooks;   Eshcol;   Figs;   Fruit, Natural;   Pomegranates;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Brooks;   Fig-Tree, the;   Holy Land;   Pomegranate-Tree, the;   Vine, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Eshcol;   Pomegranate;   Vine;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Anak;   Caleb;   Hebron;   Palestine;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Land (of Israel);   Easton Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Brook;   Eshcol;   Kadesh;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Agriculture;   Ahimam;   Hebron;   Pomegranate;   Rimmon;   Rithmah;   Wilderness of the Wanderings;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Eshcol;   Flowers;   Vine;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Aner;   Atharim;   Branch;   Eshcol;   Hexateuch;   Israel;   Joshua;   Judah;   Moses;   Pomegranate;   Vine, Vineyard;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Eshcol, Yalley of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Cluster;   Eshcol;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Pomegranate;   Vine;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahi'man;   Esh'col, the Valley;   Vine,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Rapes;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Fig Tree;   Grape;   Pomegranate;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Branch and Bough;   Brook;   Cluster;   Eshcol (1);   Eshcol (2);   Fig;   Food;   Joshua (2);   Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   Pomegranate;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Agriculture;   Aner;   Eshcol;   Fig and Fig-Tree;   Grape;   Negeb;   Wine;  

Parallel Translations

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then they came to the riuer of Eshcol, and cut downe thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it vpon a barre betwene two, and brought of the pomegranates and of the figges.
George Lamsa Translation
And they came as far as the valley of Segola, and cut down from there a branch with one bunch of grapes, and they carried it between two of them on a pole; and they brought some pomegranates and some figs.
Hebrew Names Version
They came to the valley of Eshkol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two; [they brought] also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then the men went to Eshcol Valley. There they cut off a branch from a grapevine that had a bunch of grapes on it. They put that branch on a pole, and two men carried it between them. They also carried some pomegranates and figs.
English Standard Version
And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs.
American Standard Version
And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it upon a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Bible in Basic English
And they came to the valley of Eshcol, and cutting down a vine-branch with its grapes, two of them took it on a rod between them; and they took some pomegranates and figs.
Contemporary English Version
When they got to Bunch Valley, they cut off a branch with such a huge bunch of grapes, that it took two men to carry it on a pole. That's why the place was called Bunch Valley. Along with the grapes, they also took back pomegranates and figs.
Complete Jewish Bible
They came to the Eshkol Valley; and there they cut off a branch bearing one cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two of them; they also took pomegranates and figs.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it upon a pole between two; they took also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.--
King James Version (1611)
And they came vnto the brooke of Eshcol, and cut downe from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it betweene two vpon a staffe, and they brought of the pomegranates and of the figs.
Amplified Bible
Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes), and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two of them, with some of pomegranates and the figs.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they went up by the wilderness, and departed as far as Chebron; and there was Achiman, and Sessi, and Thelami, the progeny of Enach. Now Chebron was built seven years before Tanin of Egypt.
English Revised Version
And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it upon a staff between two; they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Berean Standard Bible
When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.
Lexham English Bible
And they came up to the valley of Eshcol, and they cut off a vine branch and one cluster of grapes from there; they carried it on a pole between two men, with pomegranates and figs.
Literal Translation
And they came in to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch and one cluster of grapes. And they carried it on a staff by two; also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
New Century Version
In the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch of a grapevine that had one bunch of grapes on it and carried that branch on a pole between two of them. They also got some pomegranates and figs.
New English Translation
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 between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs.
New King James Version
Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.
New Living Translation
When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They also brought back samples of the pomegranates and figs.
New Life Bible
Then they came to the valley of Eshcol. They cut down a branch from there with some grapes on it. And they carried it on a long piece of wood between two men, with some pomegranates and figs.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they entered as far as the ravine of Eschol, and cut down, from thence a branch with one cluster of gropes, and bare it on a pole between two, - also of the pomegranates and of the figs.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(13-24) And forward as far as the torrent of the cluster of grapes, they cut off a branch with its cluster of grapes, which two men carried upon a lever. They took also of the pomegranates and of the figs of that place:
Revised Standard Version
And they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they brought also some pomegranates and figs.
Good News Translation
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King James Version
And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Darby Translation
And they came as far as the valley of Eshcol, and cut down thence a branch with one bunch of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a pole; and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei yeden til to the stronde of clustre, and kittiden doun a sioun with his grape, which twei men baren in a barre; also thei token of pumgarnadis, and of the figis of that place which is clepid Nehelescol,
Young's Literal Translation
and they come in unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down thence a branch and one cluster of grapes, and they bear it on a staff by two, also [some] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
World English Bible
They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two; [they brought] also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Update Bible Version
And they came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two; [they brought] also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Webster's Bible Translation
And they came to the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a staff; and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they came vnto the ryuer of Escol, and cut downe there a braunch with one clouster of grapes, and twayne bare it vpon a staffe: and [they brought] also of the pomgranates, and of the figges.
Christian Standard Bible®
When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which was carried on a pole by two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they came to the ryuer of Escol, and there they cut downe a cluster of grapes, and caused two to beare it vpon a staffe, pomgranates also and fygges.
New Revised Standard
And they came to the Wadi Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them. They also brought some pomegranates and figs.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men with some of the pomegranates and the figs.

Contextual Overview

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, at Lebo-hamath. 22 When they had gone up into the Negev, they came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak were. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and from there they cut off a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs.24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the sons of Israel cut off from there. 25 When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

brook: or valley, Numbers 13:24, Numbers 32:9, Deuteronomy 1:24, Deuteronomy 1:25, Judges 16:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 13:20 - the firstripe Numbers 13:28 - saw the Deuteronomy 2:13 - brook Joshua 11:21 - the Anakims Joshua 15:14 - General Joshua 15:33 - Eshtaol Hosea 9:10 - grapes Joel 1:12 - the pomegranate 2 Corinthians 5:5 - the earnest

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol,.... Or "valley of Eshcol" u, which is here so called by anticipation from the following circumstance; and perhaps had not this name given it, until the children of Israel were possessed of the land, and then they called it so, in memory of what was done here at this time; it was not far from Hebron, as may be concluded from thence; and so Jerom, relating the travels of Paula in those parts, says w, she came from Betzur to Eshcol, where having seen the little cells of Sarah, the cradle of Isaac, and the traces of the oak of Abraham, under which he saw the day of Christ, and was glad, rising up from thence, she went up to Hebron; which shows this Eshcol to be near Hebron, and to lie low, and was a valley; see Deuteronomy 1:24;

and cut down from thence a branch, with one cluster of grapes; in this valley was a vineyard, or at least a vine tree, on which they observed one cluster, which perhaps was of an uncommon size, as it seems by what follows, and they cut down the branch, and that with it:

and they bare it between two upon a staff; it was so big; and which was not done only for the ease of carrying it, but that it might not have any of its grapes squeezed, bruised, and broken off, but that they might carry it entire and whole for the Israelites to behold: these two men were probably Caleb and Joshua; though Jarchi says they carried nothing, which is more than he could say with certainty. Some historians report very surprising things of the size of vines, and the largeness of their clusters, which, when observed, this account will not at all seem incredible. Strabo says x, it is reported, that in Hyrcania, a vine produced a firkin of wine, and, the trunk of a vine was so large, that it was as much as two men could grasp with both arms, and bore clusters of two cubits long y; the same he says z of the size of vines in Mauritania, and of their clusters being a cubit long; and of others in Carmania being two cubits long, as before a: it is reported of the Indian fig tree, that it sometimes has an hundred figs more or less on a branch, and all in a cluster like grapes; and some of the clusters are sometimes so large as to be carried by two men on a staff b, as here; and some have thought, that it is the fruit here meant; but this is expressly called a cluster of grapes. About half a mile from Eshcol, as Adrichomius c says, was the brook or valley of Sorek, which was famous for vines; and it is affirmed by many writers and travellers, that to this day there are vines in that place, which produce clusters of twenty five pounds weight and more; and that in Lebanon, and other parts of Syria, the kernels of grapes are as big as a man's thumb d. Leo Africanus speaks e of grapes in some parts of Africa somewhat red, which, from their size, are called hens' eggs: and the Talmudists f are extravagant, and beyond all belief, in the account they give of the vines in the land of Canaan, and of the clusters of them, and the quantity of wine they had from them; and of this cluster they suppose g, that the "two" spoken of are not to be understood of men, but of bars or staves; and that this cluster was carried by eight, four at the four ends of the two staves, and that there were, besides, two staves or bars that went across, at the ends of which were four more men, who carried the cluster hanging in the middle; a figure of which Wagenseil h has given us: but Philo the Jew i has given a better account of it, and more agreeable to the Scripture, as that it was put upon a staff, and hung at the middle of it, the ends of which were laid on the shoulders of two young men, who carried it; though he adds, that such was the weight of it, that these were relieved by others in succession:

and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs; that is, others of them did; which seems to favour the notion that they were in a body, and that there were more than two together at this place; but even these two might be able to bring some of this sort of fruit along with them, as well as bear the cluster of grapes; besides, the text does not oblige us to understand it of the same persons in the same place.

u נחל "vallem", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. w Epitaph. Paulae, fol. 59. G. H. x Geograph. l. 2. p. 50. y Ibid. z lbid. l. 17. p. 568. a Ibid. l. 15. p. 500. b Salmuth. in Pancirol. rer. memorab. par. 2. p. 55. c Theatrum Terrae Sacr. p. 24. d Huet. Alnetan. Quaest. l. 2. c. 12. sect. 22. e Descript. Africae, l. 2. p. 204. f T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 111. 2. g T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 34. 1. h Sotah, p. 707, 708. i De Vita Mosis, l. 1. p. 638.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The brook of Eshcol is by some identified with the rich valley immediately to the north of Hebron; (but by others with Wady Hanein to the south of Hebron). The valley was, in all likelihood, originally named after one of the three chiefs who were confederate with Abraham Genesis 14:24; but, as often came to pass, the Israelites, wittingly or unwittingly, took up in a new and significant sense the name which they found; and to them the valley thus became the Valley of the Cluster. Bunches of grapes are found in Palestine of many pounds weight.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 13:23. They bare it between two upon a staff — It would be very easy to produce a great number of witnesses to prove that grapes in the promised land, and indeed in various other hot countries, grow to a prodigious size. By Calmet, Scheuchzer, and Harmer, this subject has been exhausted, and to these I may refer the reader. Pliny mentions bunches of grapes in Africa each of which was larger than an infant. Radzvil saw at Rhodes bunches of grapes three quarters of an ell in length, each grape as large as a plum. Dandini saw grapes of this size at Mount Libanus; and Paul Lucas mentions some bunches which he saw at Damascus that weighed above forty-five pounds. From the most authentic accounts the Egyptian grape is very small, and this being the only one with which the Israelites were acquainted, the great size of the grapes of Hebron would appear still more extraordinary. I myself once cut down a bunch of grapes nearly twenty pounds in weight. Those who live in cold climates can scarcely have any conception to what perfection both grapes and other fruits grow in climates that are warm, and where the soil is suitable to them.

From what is mentioned Numbers 13:20, Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes, it is very probable that the spies received their orders about the beginning of August, and returned about the middle of September, as in those countries grapes, pomegranates, and figs, are ripe about this time; see Harmer, vol. i., p. 108-110. At Sheeraz, in Persia, I find from a MS. journal, that the small white grape, askerie, came into season August 6; and pomegranates September 6; and the large red grape, sahibi, September 10.

The spies' carrying the bunch of grapes on a staff between two men was probably not rendered necessary by the size of the bunch or cluster; but to preserve it from being bruised, that the Israelites might have a fair specimen of the fruit As Joshua and Caleb were the only persons who gave a favourable account of the land, it is most likely that they were the persons who had gathered these fruits, and who brought them to the Israelitish camp. And it is likely they were gathered as short a time as possible before their return, that they might not be injured by the length of the time they had been separated from their respective trees.


 
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