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.
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.
2 tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive is here subordinated to the parallel yet chronologically later verb in the next clause.
3 tn The infinitive construct here with lamed (ל) is functioning as a result clause.
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.