The Grapes of Eshcol

The Grapes of Eshcol

The Grapes of Eshcol

Background: The Children of Israel were ready to enter and possess the land of Canaan; then Just to be on the “SAFE SIDE”, they decided to send in some SPIES to look over what God had called them to inherit. This is the turning point of the book of Numbers, and it has been the turning point of many a Spirit filled movement. At the request of the PEOPLE, and with the permission of the LORD, Moses selected twelve men to spy out the land of Canaan, they were taken out of the twelve tribes.
(Num 13:1-3) “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {vs. 2} Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan[1], which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe[2] of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler[3] among them. {vs. 3} And Moses by the commandment[4] of the LORD sent[5] them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads[6] of the children of Israel.”

1 “CANAAN”: Canaan, or Lowland (as in Humility), is a type of the human Soul.. Jesus said; “In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).” There are many “Ites” which possess the realm of our Mind, Will, and Emotion; these all must be subdued and brought under the authority of the Spirit of God before we can rule and reign with Christ.. The fine art of “Overcoming” is our Father’s Business.. See Luke 2:49
2 “TRIBE”: Each Tribe with the noticeable exception of the Tribe of Levi.. Perhaps because the Lord in His mercy would not suffer the Levites to bring an evil report of the land that God had promised them..
3 “RULER”: An exalted one, a King, Captain, Chief, Governor.. Also a rising mist, vapor, or Cloud.. See Heb 12:1 “A CLOUD of Witnesses…”
4 “COMMANDMENT”: Their service was by Commandment of the Lord; these were not “Volunteers,” but “Draftees..” Consider how great an honor not just to be chosen, but authorizedby God’s Commandment to do a very special work for Him..
5 “SENT”: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Rom 10:15)!!
6 “HEADS”: Head = The Sum, Priniciple ones, The Foremost, Beginning, Chiefest ones, the Top.. The Head (as most easily Shaken)…

Jumping ahead for just a moment; A key verse is Num 13:13, “Now the TIME was the TIME of the FIRSTRIPE GRAPES (the Principle of Firstfruits is in view).” The feast of PENTECOST is only a FORETASTE of the FULLNESS of the SPIRIT which is to be expressed in the Feast of TABERNACLES, or TRUMPETS (See Rom 8:23; 1Cor 15:52; Eph 1:13-14; Rev 10:7). The message of the Hour is that We can do more than just RAID the Land of PROMISE in the Spring and in the Fall; We can LIVE THERE YEAR R0UND!! Notice that the NAMES of the 12 spies (Num 13:1-6) reveal the characteristics of those who venture out to EXPLORE the unseen realm of the Spirit.
Of the Tribe of..
(1) REUBEN – SHAMMUA- (“A Hearkener”)
(2) SIMEON – SHAPHAT (“A Judge”)
(3) JUDAH CALEB (“A Dog, Whole-Hearted”)
(4) ISSACHAR – IGAL (“He will redeem”)
(5) EPHRAIM – OSHEA (“Salvation”) Note this was JOSHUA (13:16)
(6) BENAMIN – PALTI (MY escape)
(7) ZEBIULUN – GADDIEL (“My fortune is God”)
(8) MANASSEH – GADDI (“My invader, My troop, My fortune”)
(9) AMMIEL (“My people are of God”)
(10) ASHER – SETHUR (“Hidden”)
(11) NAPHTALI – NAHBI (“My hiding”)
(12) GAD – GEUEL (“Exalt ye God’)
NOTE: that none of these twelve however, were of the Tribe of Levi.
(Num 13:16) “These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the
land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.”
It is interesting that only Oshea the son of Nun (Meaning “Perpetual”) had his name changed by Moses.. The new name, or NATURE was Jehoshua, or “Jehovah is Salvation” the same name given to our Saviour Jesus Christ, or Jehoshua the Messiah. See Mat 1:21

(Num 13:17) “And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you UP this way southward
[1], and go UP into the mountain[2]:”
1 “SOUTHWARD”: Southward speaks of the realm of warmth and Blessings.. As one stands facing East, his *Right hand is toward the South.. *Speaks of Honor, Power, Ability, Integrity, Dignity..
2 “MOUNTAIN”: Used Figuratively as “Promotion,” or, to be exalted very
Highly… High places in Government, exalted places in humanity.. High places in
God.. The Mountain of the LORD.. See Isa 2:3 & Mic 4:2

(Num 13:18) “And see the land, what it IS; and the people that dwelleth therein,
whether they be strong or weak, few or many;”
The twelve spies were commissioned of God to fully Search out (Ask, Seek, and Knock) and realize (by firsthand experience) what this land IS in reality.. The Kingdom of God IS “Righteousness, Peace, & Joy” See Rom 14:17.. This
Kingdom IS within us. See Luke 17:21 (Num 13:19) “And what the land IS that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;”
The second time “What the land IS” in reality!!
(Num 13:20) “And what the land[1] IS, whether it be fat[2] or lean, whether there be wood[3] therein, or not. And be ye of good courage[4], and bring of the fruit[5] of the land. Now the time[6] was the time of the firstripe[7] grapes.”
The third time “What the land IS”
1 “LAND”: Good ground.. See Mat 13:23
2 “FAT”: H8082 “Shamen” Lit. Greasy, or, Oiley, as in “The Anointing”.. Fig. Rich, fat, lusty, plenteous..
3 “WOOD”: Meaning Firmness, a tree(s), a carpenter, staff, stick, stock, timber.. Wood represents Humanity; Trees are used in symbolism to represent People!!
See Mark 8:24
4 “COURAGE”: Consistantly courageous.. Faith (ful). Of GOOD (or Godly) COURAGE.. “None good but GOD..”See Mat 19:17
5 “FRUIT”: Bring of the fruit of the land See Gal 5:20
6 “TIME”: God’s timing is EVERYTHING. See (Eccl) Qoh 3:1-5 &c
7 “FIRSTRIPE”: Bikkuwr, Lit. Hasty fruit.. The time of the Firstborn, the Firstfruits company.. The time of year was nearing the feast of Tabernacles. Those who are forerunners of the Kingdom, as were Joshua and Caleb.. See Jas 1:18

(Num 13:21) “So they went[1] up, and searched[2] the land from the
wilderness[3] of Zin[4] unto Rehob[5], as men come to Hamath[6].”
1 “WENT UP”: To ascend upward.. Get up, excell, exalt, to Grow up. See Isa
53:2; Mal 4:2; Eph 4:15
2 “SEARCHED”: As a Merchant man seeking Goodly (Godly) Pearls. See Mat
13:45
3 “WILDERNESS”: 4057. midbar, mid-bawr’; from H1696 in the sense of driving;
a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by impl. a desert; also
speech (including its organs):–desert, south, speech, wilderness.
4 “ZIN”: Meaning, “to prick.” H6790 Tsin {tseen} Zin = “flat”
5 “REHOB”: The same as H7339 rachob {rekh-obe’} or rachowb {rekh-obe’}from
# 7337; A Broad (open) place.. A Broad Way; See Mat 7:13 etc.
6 “HAMATH”: A Wall, or Fortress.

(Num 13:22) “And they ascended by the south[1], and came unto Hebron[2];
where Ahiman[3], Sheshai[4], and Talmai[5], the children of Anak, were. (Now
Hebron[6] was built seven years before Zoan[7] in Egypt.)”
They “Went up” by the South, or, Meaning the dry ground; by faith alone!..
The South = Warm Blessings.. Came to Hebron = Fellowship, strong Union.
The Giants were strongly united against God and his Servants.. Wiser in their
generation than children of light.. See Luke 16:8 But Hebron (or, Fellowship)
was established 7 Years Before Zoan… God’s plan of Salvation was
established Before the foundation of the world; before Adam’s Sin, or man’s
need for a savior, Christ was already the crucified Lamb.. See Rev 13:8
1 “SOUTH”: “Negeb” or, to be parched; occasionally, Egypt.. The South also
speaks of the warm blessings of the Lord. See (Song of Sol.) Cant 4:12-16 etc.
2 “HEBRON”: Seat of association, or Fellowship.. Abraham the Hebrew. From
Eber, meaning to pass over (or, He that passes over) from another realm. The
overcomer in view.
3 “AHIMAN”: Ahiman = “my brother is a gift”
4 “SHESHAI”: Sheshai = “noble”
5 “TALMAI”: Talmai = “furrowed” See Josh 15:14
6 “HEBRON”: Lit. Union, Fellowship, the idea of passing over, or overcoming is
strongly in view. From “Eber” to pass over from another realm; See Gen 10:25
etc. Abraham the Hebrew..
7 “ZOAN”: Zoan = “place of departure” an ancient city of lower Egypt located on
the eastern bank of the Tanitic branch of the Nile; the capital of the Shepherd
dynasty, built 7 years after Hebron and (yet) existing before Abraham (The Man
of Faith) and the dwelling place of the Pharaoh (a Type of the Devil) at the time
of the exodus.

The Grapes of Eshcol

(Num 13:23) “And they came unto the brook[1] of Eshcol [# 812][2], and cut
down from thence a branch[3] with one[4] cluster [# 811] of grapes, and they
bare it between two[5] upon a staff [# 4132) [6]; and they brought of the
pomegranates[7], and of the figs.”
1 “BROOK”: “Nachal” A Stream (a winter torrent). By impl. a narrow valley
(through which a stream flows) , a shaft (as of a Mine), a channel (of blessing)..
2 “ESHCOL”: Eshcol = “A cluster” Where many become ONE.
3 “BRANCH”: The Branch Man is in view See John 15:1 & Zech 3:8
4 “ONE”: “Echad” Lit. ONE as UNITED Together…
5 “TWO”: The number of “Acceptable Witness.” A strong possibility exists that
these two were Joshua and Caleb.. These two represent Grace and Truth See
ohn 1:14 -17.. These are a type of the Two Witnesses of Rev 11:3-6 etc.
6 “STAFF”: Or, a YOKE.. See Mat 11:29 etc.
7 “POMEGRANATES”: From H7426 ) to be exalted, be lifted up.

(Num 13:24) “The place was called the brook[1] Eshcol, because of the
cluster[2] of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.”
1 “BROOK”: The “Valley of the Brook” of Eshcol..
2 “CLUSTER”: Or, Eshcol “A Cluster.”
ESHCOL = Strong’s OT. # 811 eshkowl (esh-kole’);
or eshkoll (esh-kole’), probably prolonged from # 808 (to press together, as fig
cakes), a bunch of grapes or other fruit: KJV– A cluster (of grapes).
ESHCOL ~ Where MANY become ONE. This is the Principle of the LORD’S
BODY; the Baptism of FIRE is a PRESENT REALITY, for by ONE SPIRIT we are
all being Baptized into ONE BODY. This is NOT the SAME Baptism which the
Nominal Church world has NAMED AND PRO-CLAIMED; But rather that which
Jesus and the Disciples preached, A BAPTISM into ONENESS of SPIRIT, SOUL
and BODY which would produce THE ONENESS of THE FAITH in the believer
(See Eph 2:15, 4:11-13).
“Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster (ESHCOL), and
one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes,
that I may not destroy them all (Isa 65:8).”
The Staff
STAFF =-Strong’s OT. # 4132 mowt (mote);
from 413 1; a wavering, i.e. fall; by implication, a pole (as shaking); hence, a
yoke (as essentially a bent pole):
KJV– A Bar, Staff, or Yoke.
We are commanded to “Be not UNEQUALLY YOKED with unbelievers (2Cor
6:14).” It is the ANOINTING that DESTROYS this UNEQUAL YOKE Of
BONDAGE (See Gal 5:1). “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his (The
Adamic) burden (of the FLESH) shall be taken away from off thy shoulder
(Government is in view See Isa 9:6), and his yoke (of Servitude) from off thy
neck, and the yoke (OF BONDAGE) shall be destroyed because of the anointing
(Isa 10:27).”
Jesus said, ‘Take MY YOKE upon you and LEARN of ME for I am meek and
lowly and humble at heart, and ye shall find REST for your SOULS (See Matt
11:29).” The Principle of Sabbath is in view; We take His yoke (or, Staff) as we
enter into His Rest.
The Ten Spies Versus Grace and Truth
(Num 13:25) “And they returned from searching of the land after forty[1] days.”
1 “FORTY”: Forty, the number of probation, or, a time of testing, or proving.
Jesus was in the Wilderness Forty days being tested and proven; the church has
been in the wilderness Forty Jubilees being tested and proven.. See Mat 4:1-2
etc

(Num 13:26) “And they went and came to Moses[1], and to Aaron[2], and to all
the congregation[3] of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to
Kadesh[4]; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and
showed[5] them the fruit of the land.”
1 “MOSES”: They came FIRST to Moses, the Chief Captain..
2 “AARON”: Secondly, they came to Aaron, second in command.
3 “CONGREGATION”: Thirdly, the Congregation came into the revelation of the
Fruit of the Land..
4 “KADESH”: “A Sanctuary..”
5 “SHOWED”: “Showed them,” as that which can only be known (or,
Discovered) by Revelation..

(Num 13:27) “And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou
sentest us, and surely[1] it floweth[2] with milk[3] and honey[4]; and this is the
fruit of it.”
1 “SURELY”: Surely it is “Just exactly what God said it was..”
2 “FLOWETH”: To “Gush out” a Perpetual FLOW of the Spirit..
3 “MILK”: The Richness of the Word of Sincerity and Truth. See 1Pet 2:2
4 “HONEY”: The Spirit of Revelation which ENLIGHTENS the EYES (of
UNDERSTANDING) See 1Sam 14:27 & Eph 1:18

(Num 13:28) “Nevertheless[1] the people be strong[2] that dwell[3] in the land,
and the cities are walled[4], and very great[5]: and moreover we saw the children
of Anak[6] there.”
1 “NEVERTHELESS”: Nevertheless.. But.. But… But… The “good excuses”
always seem to outweigh the promises in the minds of the carnal element..
2 “STRONG”: Vehement, Harsh, Fierce, Greedy, Rough(ly), Strong..
3 “DWELL”: Remain fixed, Abide, Continue..
4 “WALLED”: Inaccessible by Hieght or Fortification, Fenced, Restrain.. To be
Isolated.
5 “GREAT”: Intense(ity). Loud..
6 “ANAK”: A Necklace, A Chain (as if Strangling)..

(Num 13:29) “The Amalekites[1] dwell in the land of the south: and the
Hittites[2], and the Jebusites[3], and the Amorites[4], dwell in the mountains[5]:
and the Canaanites[6] dwell by the sea[7], and by the coast of Jordan[8].”
1 “AMALEKITES”: The Sinners.. See 1Sam 15:18
2 “HITTITES”: Hittite “Terror” To break down, by Violence, Force, or Fear..
3 “JEBUSITES”: Jebus, a “Threshing Place.” Those who love to “Thrash you
out…” These are they who so often Trample the precious things of the Word of
God under their feet (See Mat 7:6).
4 “AMORITES”: Amorites speak of “Self Love” Amority – At’s Amor’e.. “Lovers of
their own selves” See 2Tim 3:2
5 “MOUNTAINS”: Inhabit the exalted places of humanity.. Friends in High
Places..
6 “CANAANITES”: Merchants, peddlers, a trafficker, A Merchandiser..
7 “SEA”: Seas, or Waters are “Peoples, and Multitudes, Nations and tongues”..
See Rev 17:15
8 “JORDAN”: Jordan, a symbol of Death.. Flows to the “Dead Sea,” a type of
Hell..

(Num 13:30) “And Caleb stilled[1] the people before Moses, and said, Let us
go[2] up at once, and possess it; for we are well able[3] to overcome[4] it.”
Num 13:30: Caleb had “Another Spirit” and because of this, was given an
inheritance in the land.. See Num 14:24
1 “STILLED”: To Hush, be silent, still.. An Usher, or “Husher” of the people for
the King.
2 “GO”: “Let us go up at once, and possess it;” This is “Now” Faith See Heb
11:1
3 “ABLE”: Easily able to overcome all things through Christ!
4 “OVERCOME”: Prevail, attain, endure, to be able to do all things without fail
(ure)..

(Num 13:31-33) “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go
up against the people; for they are stronger than we. {vs. 32} And they brought
up an evil[1] report of the land which they had searched unto the children of
Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that
eateth[2] up the inhabitants[3] thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are
men of a great stature[4]. {vs. 33} And there we saw the giants[5], the sons of
Anak, which come of the giants[6]: and we were in our own sight[7] as
grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight[8].”
The ten spies which discouraged Israel are typical of the Law, the Ten
Commandments.. “Thou shalt not, Thou shalt not, etc..” The two spies which
brought a good report are symbolic of “Grace and Truth” as it is found in Jesus..
See Eph 4:21
1 “EVIL”: Slander, Lit. a “Lie,” defaming, infamy..
2 “EATETH”: That eateth up the inhabitants “The zeal of my Father’s house hath
eaten me up” See John 2:17
3 “INHABITANTS”: To Settle, Abide continually, Haunt..
4 “STATURE”: Extended, Above measure, Immense..
5 “GIANTS”: A Bully, a tyrant. From H5307 “to fall;” The Nephilim, or “Fallen
Ones.” Giants,
6 “GIANTS”: Fierce, Bold, etc.. Gigantic..
7 “SIGHT”: The eye was EVIL, and how great was that darkness of their souls..
See Luke 11:34 etc.. Their vision was identical to the Giants..
8 “SIGHT”: Their estimation of Israel was that they were no more a threat to the
Giants than a small swarm of locusts…
Notice that the testimony of the LAW is from an EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE:
LOOKING UP at CIRCUMSTANCES… The ten spies which discouraged Israel
are a type of the Law of Moses, the ten Commandments (Thou shalt not.. Thou
shalt not … ). Notice again their Testimony:
Num 13:33 “And there we saw the Giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the
giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their
sight.” The NAKED EYE is a BLINDED EYE (See Rev 3:17).
Notice that the testimony of Jesus Christ is from a HEAVENLY
PERSPECTIVE: LOOKING DOWN at CIRCUMSTANCES. The Principle of the
TWO WITNESSES (Grace and Truth.. See John 1:17) is revealed in the
testimony of Joshua and Caleb:
Num, 14:9 “Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the
land; for they are bread for us (A PIECE OF CAKE, in other words): their defense
is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not”.
The Point of DE-MARK-ATION
The rebellion of Israel and their refusal to enter the Land took place at
Kadesh-Barnea: (Num 13:26; Deut 1:19) # 6946 “KADESH” means “Clean,
pure, bright, Holy, sacred, sanctified, consecrated, set apart”. “BAR-NEA” is a
conjunction of two words which mean: “Field, desert, wilderness, fugitive,
wandering,” and “SON OF.” Thus, “The son of wandering was SET APART” at
Kadesh-Barnea.
# 6947 Qadesh Barnea’ (kaw-dashe bar-nay’-ah);
from the same as 6946 and an otherwise unused word (apparently compounded
of a correspondent to 1251 and a derivative of 5128) meaning desert of a
fugitive; Kadesh of (the) Wilderness of Wandering; Kadesh Barnea, a place in the
Desert: KJV– Kadesh-Barnea.
This tragedy and the resulting sin of PRESUMPTION (Num 14:40-45) typify
those who through fear and unbelief want to stay safely entrenched in the INPART-
NESS of Pentecost, and who have no desire to move into the FULLNESS
of the Feast of Tabernacles. From time to time they even presume to do battle
with the enemy, but are always defeated by the FLESH (the Amalekites). These
move in HUMAN wisdom and HUMAN strength. (Zech 4:6 “Might and Power”)
But that is NOT the way to the TOP of the HILL (MT. ZION). (Num 14:44, Phil
3:1-14) You cannot go without the ARK (of God s DIVINE GOVERNMENT) and
MOSES (the Man, or Men, through whom that GOVERNMENT comes to you).
The Wilderness
The Wilderness is a place of TRIAL and TEMPTATION. Unlike Israel, Jesus’
Wilderness Journey lasted only FORTY DAYS; The Church’s Wilderness has
been FORTY JUBILEES!! The difference is HOW WE WALK… “It is the Spirit
that quickeneth (Meaning Lit. To SPEED UP); the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).” The
wilderness is a place of MANIFESTATION, a place of the PROVING of ALL
THINGS. “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led
thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to
know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments,
or no (Deut 8:2).” “And He (Jesus) was there in the wilderness forty days,
tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto
him (Mark 1:13).”
The EARLY CHURCH came to their Kadesh-Barnea shortly after Pentecost, in
fact, they became so reluctant to leave the comfort of Jerusalem and Judea that
God stirred up severe persecution toward them until they were literally forced to
go into “all the World and Preach the Gospel to every creature (See Acts 8:1
etc.).” About 38.5 Jubilees later, the Church again came to Kadesh-Barnea, (The
AZUSA Street Revival, between 1906 -1910). The Latter Day “Pentecostals”
refused to go any further, and instead built their fenced cities (Denominations)
between 1910-1920.
The Church came once AGAIN to Kadesh-Barnea in 1948-55 (The Latter Rain
Revival), and again the Church refused to enter in because of unbelief. Before
we become too Judgmental about this, we need to take into account the matter
of Prophetic TIMING; Previous to now, the time was not right for the Church to
fully enter into Life and Immortality, and it was also necessary for the O.T.
Scriptures to be fulfilled. This time around the Mountain however, some End-
Time Caleb will no doubt arise and declare, “Let us go up at once, and possess it
for we are well able to overcome it (Num 13:30).” Some will try to stone him,
and they will only die in the wilderness for their actions; But Praise God, Joshua
and Caleb will live long enough and survive to take their children in (Josh 14:etc.)!!

The Grapes of Eshcol by Robert Burgess

April – 2000

The Grapes of Eshcol