“The Valley of Achor (Joshua 15.7): A Setting of Sin (Joshua 7.24, 26), Hope (Hosea 2.17), and New Creation (Isaiah 65.10).”

Vos J. Cornelis de

Forschungsartikel (Buchbeitrag)

Zusammenfassung

The best identification of the Valley of Achor in the description of thenorthern boundary of  Judah (Josh. 15.7) is the wādi system of wādi mukellik and wādi es-sidr. This valley was the (former) tribal area ofReuben. It was an enclave in the tribal area of Judah. Achan who sinnedagainst the חרם was, therefore, claimed as a member of the tribe of Judahin Joshua 7, whereas his predecessors seem to be Reubenites. Achan andhis family were stoned in their own tribal area, the Valley of Achor, thusbecoming a setting of sin and retaliation.The Valley of Achor is explicitly referred to in Hosea 2 and Isaiah 65. Inboth chapters, the valley functions within an eschatological setting. In Hos.2.17, the Valley of Achor becomes a ‘door of hope' leading to a ‘monogamousmatrimony' between Yhwh and his ‘wife' Israel. It even leads topeace between animals, a reminiscence of the ante-diluvian situation.In Isaiah 65 this allusion is even clearer. The Valley of Achor isthe entrance into the land after the new Exodus from Babylon, andtogether with the Sharon it symbolizes the whole land of Israel; further,it symbolizes fertility and animal peace, and it leads to Yhwh's holymountain in Jerusalem, the starting point of Yhwh's new creation in whichthere will be no distress, but only peace and joy. In these last two chapters,the Valley of Achor is a herald of good tidings.

Details zur Publikation

Herausgeber*innen: Lindquist Pekka, Valve Lotta
Buchtitel: Herald of Good Tidings: Essays on the Bible, Prophecy, and the Hope of Israel. In Honour of Antti Laato
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
Verlag: Sheffield Phoenix
ISBN: 978-1-914490-01-9
Sprache, in der die Publikation verfasst ist: Englisch
Veranstaltung: Sheffield