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Eshcol

Locations
Modern Location Wadi es-Salt, near Hebron, West Bank
Coordinates 31.5333, 35.0833

Geographical Setting

Eshcol is a valley in the Hebron region identified with the site where Israelite spies gathered a massive cluster of grapes.

What is the meaning of Eshcol in the Bible?

Eshcol is a Hebrew term meaning 'cluster' or 'bunch' that designates a valley in the Hebron region, famous for its agricultural fertility and associated with an Amorite ally of Abraham.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding Eshcol provides geographical context for the biblical account of the spies' report, illustrating the agricultural richness of Canaan and the complex political alliances between early patriarchs and local Canaanite chieftains.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Eshcol (located near modern Wadi es-Salt, near Hebron, West Bank) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Eshcol in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Eshcol clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Eshcol." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/eshcol/
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