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threatened. They are brought under notice as the noblest possession, as
the finest ornament of the cultivated land, in contrast with the barren
wilderness. [Hebrew: mwM], properly "from thence," is correctly
explained by _Manger_: "As soon as she has come out of that
wilderness." The explanation of _Roediger_ and others, "From that time,"
is unphilological; [Hebrew: wM] is never an adverb of time.--According
to the opinion of many interpreters (_Calvin_, _Manger_, and others),
the valley of Achor here comes into consideration only because of its
fruitfulness, and its situation at the entrance of the promised land,
but not with any reference to the event which, according to Josh. vii.,
happened there. But the circumstance that here, as in the whole
preceding context, the prophet, in almost every word, has before his
eyes the former leadings of Israel, compels us, almost involuntarily,
to have respect to that event. And, in addition, there is a still more
decisive argument. It cannot be denied that there is a contrast between
what the valley of Achor is by nature, and what it is made by the Lord;
there is too plain a contrast between the _hope_ and the _affliction_.
But if thus the meaning of the name is brought into view, then
certainly there must also be a reference to the event to which it owed
its name. But in order to have a right understanding of this reference,
we must find out what was the essential feature in the event, the
repetition of which is here announced. The people, when they were
entering into Canaan, were immediately deprived of the enjoyment of the
divine favour by the transgression of an individual--Achan--which was
only a single fruit from the tree of the sin which was common to all.
But God Himself, in His mercy, made known the means by which the lost
favour might be recovered; and thus the place, which seemed to be the
door of destruction, became the door of hope; compare _Schultens_ on
_Harari_ iii. p. 180. The remembrance of this event was perpetuated by
the name of the place; compare ver. 25: "And Joshua said. Why hast thou
troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day. Therefore the name
of the place was called. The valley of Achor, unto this day." This
particular dealing of God, however, is based upon His nature, and must,
therefore, repeat itself when Israel again comes into similar
circumstances,--must be repeated, in general, whensoever similar
conditions arise. Even they who have a