VALLEY OF ACHOR (JOSHUA 7:24,26; 15:7; ISAIAH 65:10; HOSEA 2:15)

I occasionally like to track the appearances of a given word, person, or location throughout the Bible to see if the meaning attached to it stays the same or changes over the years. Achor is an easy representative study since it only appears in five verses overall.

Lilley describes the location of Achor as “some 4 miles from north to south, centered on the Wadi Qumran 10 miles south of Jericho.” Thus, it is not at all surprising that “Achor is the first place-name mentioned on the copper scroll from Qumran,” which appears to be some sort of buried treasure map.

Joshua 7:24,26

In this chapter, Achor lives up to its name, roughly translated from the Hebrew as “trouble.” In the aftermath of the Battle of Jericho, the Israelites suffer a disastrous defeat at Ai because God had withdrawn his protection over them due to the fact that a man called Achan had gone against God's command and taken some of the booty for himself instead of destroying it.

It is therefore an appropriately named place for the execution of Achan, who brought such trouble upon the people.

However, just a few chapters after the previous mention of Achor, that location becomes one of many place-names enumerated in order to describe the parcels of the Promised Land to be divided among the tribes of Israel. So we detect here a hint of a more promising future for both that valley and the Jews.

An interesting parallel between Joshua 7 and 15 can be seen in that in both cases the casting of lots is utilized, in the first place to narrow down the list of suspected offenders successively by tribe, family, and individuals. However, in the fifteenth chapter lots are used to determine which tribe will inherit which portion of land.

Isaiah 65:10

The fortunes of the “Valley of Trouble” take a definitely positive turn in one of the final prophecies of Isaiah. This verse reads in full: “Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.” (RSV)

“Closely connected with the image of cattle as signifying God's blessing is that of God's protection of the cattle. Isaiah prophesies of God's provision for cattle in the future messianic kingdom (Is. 65:10).” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery)

Blenkinsopp explains that the elect among the people will “possess the land from Sharon, the northern coastal plain (33.9), to Achor, the desolate region west of the Dead Sea.” But the valley at that time will be a place of divine protection and provision for the Israelites.

At this point, we should be powerfully reminded of another scene of a shepherd in an OT valley: “Even though I walk through a valley dark as death I fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy staff and thy crook are my comfort.” (Psalm 23:4, NEB)

Hosea 2:15

Lastly, we come to a similar positive prophecy in the writings of Hosea. The RSV renders this verse as follows: “And there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.”

Polkinghorne says that this verse “picks up the story of Jos. 7 and illustrates two features of the prophet's style: his citation of place names and his fondness of plays on words. Achor, literally 'trouble', becomes hope.”

Payne, unlike DBI's interpretation of Isaiah 56:10, does not envision a eschatological setting for Hosea's prophecy, but a one fulfilled in years past. He states, “Just as Achor had conveyed an unhappy memory (Josh 7:25-26) and yet played a part in Israel's past entrance into the promised land, so the exilic chastening (Hos 2:14,16-17) would have a hopeful side and would open the way to restoration...The exiles who returned after Cyrus' decree in 538 B.C. may even have entered the land by the old route through the Valley of Achor, Hos 2:15, though Achor may have symbolized the distress preceding restoration or perhaps serve as a figure for fertility; cf. Isa 65:10.”

Conclusion

So as a fitting summary of the changing fortunes of Achor as time progressed, DBI first recounts a number of biblical valleys which were sites of trouble, but then states, “On the far side of divine warfare and judgment, the vision of the prophets returns to valleys of fertility and peace evoking scenes of Eden...By the Creator God's providence and plan, the image of an idyllic and fertile valley will prevail in the end.”