Difference between revisions of "Achor"

<p> A valley in Jericho: rendered memorable from the stoning of Achan, the son of Carmi, there. Indeed the valley seems to have borrowed its name from this man. See the history (&nbsp;Joshua 7:17-26) The margin of the [[Bible]] at the last verse so explains. [[Achor]] means trouble. It is somewhat remarkable, that one so injurious to [[Israel]] should have been born called Achan, as if from his birth ordained to this condemnation. (&nbsp;Jude 1:1:4) I know not whether I should have noticed this valley, or the history of Achan, to whom it refers, had it not been from the gracious use the Lord makes of it, in a way of figure, by allusion, in promising happier times to Israel. (&nbsp;Hosea 2:15) In this sweet chapter, the Lord is following up his rich promises of grace, in return for Israel's repeated ingratitude and rebellion. But grace shall triumph. For, saith the Lord, from trouble like that of Achan, I will raise up comfort to my people: when from the sorrows induced by sin, under the quickening convictions for sin, and the exercises wrought in the soul, by the power of the Holy Ghost, I will bring my people into the blessed consolations of deliverance by Christ. "And I will give her her wine-yards from thence; and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt." (&nbsp;Isaiah 65:10) </p>

<p> '''Achor''' (â'kor), trouble. A valley near Jericho, where [[Achan]] was stoned; and from the trouble Achan brought upon Israel it had its name. &nbsp;Joshua 7:24; &nbsp;Joshua 7:26. Yet from that trouble sanctified a new career of victory began. With this idea we find the place and the circumstance afterwards adverted to. &nbsp;Hosea 2:15. The valley of trouble was the door through which Israel entered [[Canaan]] first; and again through the valley of trouble would the Lord lead his ransomed people to peace and rest. The boundary line of [[Judah]] ran by Achor. &nbsp;Joshua 15:7. It is also mentioned in &nbsp;Isaiah 65:10. </p>

<p> On the northern boundary of Judah (&nbsp;Joshua 15:7). (See ACHAN.) </p>

<p> '''''ā̄´kor''''' ( עכור , <i> '''''‛ākhō̄r''''' </i> , "trouble," the idea of the word being that of trouble which is serious and extreme. See [[Achan]] ): The place where Achan was executed in the time of Joshua (&nbsp;Joshua 7:24 , &nbsp;Joshua 7:26 ). In all the five places where it is mentioned it is described as the <i> '''''‛ēmek''''' </i> , the arable valley of Achor. There is no ground in the record for the current idea that it must have been a locality with horrid and dismal physical features. It was on a higher level than the camp of Israel in the Jordan valley, and on a lower level than [[Debir]] - a different Debir from that of &nbsp;Joshua 15:15 . In a general way, as indicated by the points mentioned in the border of Judah, it was north of Betharabah, and south of Debir (&nbsp;Joshua 7:24; &nbsp;Joshua 15:7 ). Many identify it with the [[Wady]] Kelt which descends through a deep ravine from the Judean hills and runs between steep banks south of the modern Jericho to Jordan, the stream after rams becoming a foaming torrent. Possibly the name may have been applied to a region of considerable extent. In &nbsp;Isaiah 65:10 it is a region on the east side of the mountain ridge which is in some sense balanced with [[Sharon]] on the west side. By implication the thing depicted seems to be these rich agricultural localities so far recovered from desolation as to be good grounds for cattle and sheep. Hosea recognizes the comforting aspect of the dreadful affair in the valley of Achor; it was a doorway of hope to pardoned Israel (&nbsp; Hosea 2:15 (&nbsp; Hosea 2:17 )), and he hopes for like acceptance for the Israel of his own day. </p>

<p> (Heb. Akor', עָכוֹר , trouble; Sept. Ἀχωρ ), the name of a valley (עֵמֶק, Sept. φάραγξ, κοιλάς, ῎ Eμεκ ) not far from Jericho, given in consequence of the trouble occasioned to the Israelites by the sin of Achan </p> <p> (q.v.), who was stoned to death and buried there (&nbsp;Joshua 7:24; &nbsp;Joshua 7:26). It was known by the same name in the time of [[Jerome]] (Onomast. s.v.). The prophets more than once allude to it typically in predicting the glorious changes under the Messiah, either on account of its proverbial fertility (&nbsp;Isaiah 65:10) or by way of contrast with the unfortunate entrance of the Israelites near this pass into Canaan on their first approach (&nbsp;Hosea 2:15). It was situated on the boundary of Judah and Benjamin, between the stone of Ben-Bonan and Debir, south of [[Gilgal]] (&nbsp;Joshua 15:7), and was probably the same now called (see Zimmerman's Map) Wady Dabr, running into the Dead Sea east of [[Ain]] Jehair (Robinson's Researches, 2, 254). (See [[Tribe]]). Thomson (Land and Book, 2, 185) says vaguely that "it runs up from Gilgal toward Bethel;" but this is inconsistent with the above notices of location (comp. Keil, Comment. on Joshua p. 201). (See [[Cherith]]). </p>