The Valley of Achor, where Achan was punished for his sin.
Also known as Valley of Achor
The Valley of Achor was a valley near Jericho where Achan, an Israelite, was stoned to death for taking forbidden plunder from the city of Jericho (Joshua 7:24-26). As a result, the valley was named "Achor," which means "trouble," because Achan had brought trouble upon Israel. The Valley of Achor is also mentioned as a boundary marker for the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:7).
In later prophetic writings, the Valley of Achor is used symbolically. Isaiah 65:10 portrays it as a place of rest and abundance for God's people in the future messianic age. Hosea 2:15 describes it as a place of hope and restoration, where God will turn Israel's sorrow into joy, comparing it to a "door of hope." These passages suggest that the Valley of Achor, once a place of judgment and trouble, will become a symbol of God's blessing and redemption for His people.
Approximate location: 31.837, 35.400 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H5911
Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.
Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.
There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.