Achor

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 (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. (Jude 4:) I know not whether I should have noticed this valley, or the history of Achan, to whom it refers, had itnot been from the gracious use the Lord makes of it, in a way of figure, by allusion, in promising happier times to Israel. (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, Iwill 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." (Isaiah lxv. 10.)

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ADAM

The first man. The name implies the earth, from whence he was formed, which signifies red. It is worthy remark, that Christ is also called Adam. (1 Cor. xv. 45.) And if we compare what the apostle saith of Christ, (Col. i. 15.) with what is said of Adam, at the creation of the world, (Gen. i. 26.) it serves to explain, in what sense we are to limit the expression concerning him, who was formed from the earth as the first man. In that Scripture of the apostle, when speaking of Christ, he is called, "the image of the invisible God, thefirst born of every creature." Hence we infer, that though the first Adam was indeed the first man, as manifested openly; yet the second Adam, so called, even the Lord from heaven, had a pre - existence in secret, and stood up the Great Head of his body the church, in the counsels of the divine mind, the Wisdom man, from all eternity. Indeed from this Wisdom man, this pattern, the first earthly man was formed. For so the charter of grace, at the creation, expressed it: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."(Gen. i. 26.) And if Christ was, and is, as the apostle was commissioned to tell the church, "the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature, " nothing can be plainer than that the first Adam, so called, because indeed he was the first man openly, was created in the image or likeness of Him, who alone can be said to be the image of the invisible God, and in his human nature, "the first born of every creature." (See Psalm lx29. 19. Prov. 8. 22 - 31. Micah v. 2.)

Valley of, between Jericho and Ai. So called from the trouble brought upon the Israelites by the sin of Achan; Achor in the Hebrew denoting trouble.

A´chor, a valley between Jericho and Ai, which received this name (signifying trouble) from the trouble brought upon the Israelites by the sin of Achan (Jos 7:24) [ACHAN].

Trouble, a valley north of Jericho; so called, perhaps, from the troubles occasioned by the sin of Achan, who was here put to death, {\cf11 \ul Jos 7:26}. The prophets allude to it with promises of hope and joy in the gospel era, {\cf11 \ul Isa 65:10}; {\cf11 \ul Hos 2:15}.\PAR

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On the northern boundary of Judah (Jos 15:7). (See ACHAN.)

(Heb. Akor’, עָכוֹר, trouble; Sept. Α᾿χωρ), 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

(q.v.), who was stoned to death and buried there (Jos 7:24; Jos 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 (Isa 65:10) or by way of contrast with the unfortunate entrance of the Israelites near this pass into Canaan on their first approach (Hos 2:15). It was situated on the boundary of Judah and Benjamin, between the stone of Ben-Bonan and Debir, south of Gilgal (Jos 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.

Achor (â’kor), trouble. A valley near Jericho, where Achan was stoned; and from the trouble Achan brought upon Israel it had its name. Jos 7:24; Jos 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. Hos 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. Jos 15:7. It is also mentioned in Isa 65:10.

By: Moses Beer

A valley near Jericho. From Josh. xv. 7 it would appear that it was situated upon the northern boundary of Judah. Its exact position has not, however, been ascertained. Eusebius ("Onomasticon," ed. Lagarde, p. 105) and Jerome ("Liber de Situ et Nominibus Locorum Hebraicorum," xxiii. 868) allude to it as a valley north of Jericho; whereas some modern writers identify it with Wadi el-Kelt, a deep ravine south of Jericho. According to Josh. vii. 24-26, Achan was stoned there; and, in view of the trouble that he brought upon his people and upon himself, the place assumed a typical character, symbolizing an accursed desolation that will only be redeemed in the times of the Messiah (Hosea, ii. 15; Isa. lxv. 10).

ACHOR (’çmeq ’âkhôr, ‘Vale of Grief’).—Here Achan (wh. see), with his family, was stoned to death. It lay on the boundary between Judah and Benjamin (Jos 15:7 etc.). Guthe identifies it with the plain south of Jericho, between the mountains on the west, and Jordan and the Dead Sea on the east. Wâdy Kelt, a tremendous gorge which breaks down from the mountain W. of Jericho, probably formed the boundary between Judah and Benjamin. In the mouth of this valley, it seems likely, the execution took place.

W. Ewing.

ā̄´kor (עכור, ‛ākhō̄r, “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 (Jos 7:24, Jos 7:26). In all the five places where it is mentioned it is described as the ‛ēmek, 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 Jos 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 (Jos 7:24; Jos 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 Isa 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 (Hos 2:15 (Hos 2:17)), and he hopes for like acceptance for the Israel of his own day.

Jos 7:24 (c) This valley represents a place of sorrow and trouble in human lives. As Achan was stoned there, and his sin put away, so in our lives times of trouble and sorrow may be called "the place of Achor." There GOD’s remedy is to be applied to the difficulty.

Hos 2:15 (c) The valley in this passage is described as a door of hope. When sin is judged and put away, then hope for GOD’s blessing is revived, and joy replaces sorrow.