Valley of Eshcol
Where the twelve spies cut the great cluster of grapes; “Eshcol” means “cluster.” Just north of Hebron.
First mentioned in the Bible
When they came to the Valley of Eshʹcol, there they cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes, which two of the men had to carry on a bar, as well as some of the pomegranates and figs.— Numbers 13:23
Background
The Valley of Eshcol lay in the Judean hills just north of Hebron — fertile country famed for vineyards then and now. “Eshcol” is Hebrew for “cluster.” The twelve spies sent by Moses cut here a single cluster of grapes so heavy that two men carried it on a bar, along with pomegranates and figs (Nu 13:23). The cluster became tangible proof of the Promised Land’s abundance and gave the valley its name (Nu 13:24). Some 40 years later Moses recalled that the fruit they brought back proved “the land that Jehovah our God is giving us is good” (De 1:24-25). Abraham’s Amorite ally Eshcol, Mamre’s brother, also lived near Hebron (Ge 14:13), and the valley may originally have borne his name.
Related Scriptures (New World Translation)
When they came to the Valley of Eshʹcol, there they cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes, which two of the men had to carry on a bar, as well as some of the pomegranates and figs.— Numbers 13:23
They called that place the Valley of Eshʹcol because of the cluster that the Israelites cut down from there.— Numbers 13:24
They left and went up into the mountainous region and reached the Valley of Eshʹcol and spied it out. They took some of the fruitage of the land and carried it back to us, and they brought word back to us, ‘The land that Jehovah our God is giving us is good.’— Deuteronomy 1:24-25Explore Valley of Eshcol on the interactive map →
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