Numbers 13:24, commentary and pictures

The brook was named Eshcol for the immense cluster of grapes the Israelite spies cut down there, so large that two men bore it on a staff, and with pomegranates and figs it stood as a sample and proof of Canaan's fertility, abundance and goodness. Caleb and Joshua alone gave a faithful account of that richness and urged the people to go up and possess the land in the strength of God. The other spies brought an exaggerated, discouraging report that left God out, and by confident assertion and imagination-led talk they filled the multitude with fear of walled cities, giants and iron chariots until rebellion broke out. God kept His word to the two faithful men, so though they shared the forty years of wandering they entered the promised land and ate of the grapes of Eshcol, while the cowards and rebels wore out their lives and perished in the desert. That cluster thus pictures a true report from the heavenly Canaan, which stands as a warning not to reject faithful counsel and draw back when obedience involves risk.

Name, Fruit, and Setting

This verse belongs to the account of the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan, the land God had promised Israel.

The place was called the brook Eshcol because the children of Israel cut down a cluster of grapes there, the spies who were exploring the land giving it that name from what they did. The cluster was unusually large, so large that it was carried on a staff between two men. Along with the cluster the spies brought back pomegranates and figs.

That fruit was brought as a sample of the produce of the land, a sign and evidence of its fertility and abundance, its richness and beauty and goodness. After the people accepted the spies' evil report, God decreed forty years of wilderness wandering, and when they afterward tried to enter the land the favorable time had passed, their enemies were ready, and they were defeated. The spies' visit was still remembered forty years later, recalled as a source of fear to Canaan when Israel approached again.

Faith and Unbelief Lessons

Joshua was one of the twelve sent to search the promised land, and he with one other, Caleb, gave a faithful account of its attractiveness and richness as seen in the cluster cut at the brook Eshcol, urging the people to go up and possess it in the strength of God. He had served as prime minister to Moses during most of the wilderness sojourn, had seen the wonderful works of God wrought through Moses, and well understood the disposition of the people, and this faithfulness and experience qualified him to become the acknowledged leader of Israel to conquer Canaan under divine guidance. That faithful testimony fitted him to lead Israel into Canaan after Moses died.

The unfaithful spies brought exaggerated, discouraging reports concerning entrance into the promised land that set the people almost frantic with disappointment. Their course showed lack of spiritual eyesight to discern spiritual things, telling matters as they appear to natural sight, misleading hearers by confident assertions, with imagination having a large share in coloring their statements, and such discouraging talk repeated among the people does harm to the cause. The return of the spies exposed loud, boisterous rebellion, human prejudice, and destitution of the divine nature and of the Spirit and grace of God. Against that evil current Caleb and Joshua exerted a faithful influence that could have turned its whole course.

When fear of cities walled up to heaven, giant warriors, and iron chariots daunted faith, the multitude, leaving God out, echoed the unbelieving spies that they were not able to go up, and their word proved true as they wore out their lives in the desert. Caleb and Joshua reasoned that God's promise was superior to giants, walled cities, and chariots of iron, and their word proved true, for though they shared the forty years' wandering they entered the land of promise. God kept His word and brought those two faithful spies into the land He had promised them, and as the reward of faith Caleb and Joshua ate of the grapes of Eshcol after the forty years, while the cowards and rebels and the faithless perished in the wilderness. Caleb, courageous in the strength of the Lord of hosts, asked for and received the stronghold of the giants, drove out the Canaanites, and possessed the vineyards and olive groves where his feet had trodden.

The history of the twelve spies stands as a warning about rejecting faithful counsel and drawing back when obedience involves risk. The same manifestations appear in modern Israel in council meetings, board meetings, and auditing committees in settling accounts with ministers, where silence toward evil and unprincipled actions lets injustice swell to immense proportions and sacred things are handled as common matters. The grapes brought from Canaan picture a good report from the heavenly Canaan, though those who hear it may reject it as the Israelites threatened to reject the report of Caleb and Joshua.