Achor: Trouble, a valley near Jericho, so called in consequence of the
trouble which the sin of Achan caused Israel
(Joshua 7:24,26) The
expression "valley of Achor" probably became proverbial for that
which caused trouble, and when Isaiah
(Isaiah 65:10) refers to it he uses
it in this sense: "The valley of Achor, a place for herds to lie down
in;" i.e., that which had been a source of calamity would become a
source of blessing. Hosea also
(Hosea 2:15) uses the expression in the
same sense: "The valley of Achor for a door of hope;" i.e., trouble
would be turned into joy, despair into hope. This valley has been
identified with the Wady Kelt.
