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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 13:21-25

We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north, Num. 13:21. See Num. 34:3; 8. It is probable that they did not go altogether in a body, lest they should be suspected and taken up, which there would be the more danger of if the Canaanites knew (and one would think they could not but know) how near the Israelites were to them; but they divided themselves into several... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:23

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol ,.... Or "valley of Eshcol" F21 נחל "vallem", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. , 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 13:23

The brook of Eshcol. Rather, "the valley of Eshcol," for it is not a land of brooks. Probably between Hebron and Jerusalem, where the grapes are still exceptionally fine, and the dusters of great size. They bare it between two on a staff, not on account of its weight, but simply in order not to spoil it. Common sense dictates the like precaution still in like cases. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 13:23

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 13:23-24

Numbers 13:23-24. Upon a staff Either for the weight of it, considering the length of the way they were to carry it, or for the preservation of it whole and entire. In those eastern and southern countries there are vines and grapes of an extraordinary bigness, as Strabo and Pliny affirm. Eshcol That is, a cluster of grapes, as the word signifies. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:1-33

The twelve spies (13:1-33)Israel pushed on towards the promised land. The long and tiresome journey through the wilderness of Paran was relieved by stoppages at various points where the people set up camp for a few days (see 10:12; 11:35; 12:16; 13:3). As they moved nearer to Canaan, Moses sent twelve spies, one from each tribe, to see what they could find out about the country - its terrain, its people, its defences and its productivity (13:1-20). The spies probably split up, going in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 13:23

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), calling attention to each of the three items. grapes, &c. No mere accident that these three were brought. These symbolical of the "fruit" of our Land, even of Him Who is the true Vine. He comes first. pomegranates. His worship comes next (largely used symbolically in tabernacle and temple, see Exo 27:28 , Exo 27:29 and 2 Chronicles 3:0 and 2 Chronicles 4:0 ). figs. The common support of life in the East, next to bread. These... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 13:23

Numbers 13:23. They came unto the brook of Eshcol— The original word signifies a brook or valley. Valley appears much more proper for this place, as it seems rather uncouth to say, they cut down a branch from a brook. The reason for the name Eshcol is given in the 24th verse. Some have thought that they bare this cluster of grapes upon a staff or bier, (see chap. Numbers 4:10.) merely on account of its size and weight; and, accordingly, authors are cited to prove, that the vines and grapes in... read more

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