Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 65:10
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
10. Sharon ] (in Hebr. always with the art.) the northern part of the Maritime Plain, from near Carmel to Joppa, varying in breadth from 6 to 12 miles. (For a description see G. A. Smith, Hist. Geogr. pp. 147 f.)
the valley of Achor ] Jos 7:24; Jos 15:7; Hos 2:15. One of the valleys (not identified) running up into the mountains from the Jordan-depression somewhere near Jericho. The names are mentioned as the extreme limits, W. and E., of the land to be inherited by the servants of Jehovah.
for my people that have inquired of me ] in contrast to those spoken of in Isa 65:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Sharon – Sharon was properly a district south of Mount Carmel, along the coast of the Mediterranean, and extending from. Caesarea to Joppa. In the Scripture, this is almost a proverbial name to denote extraordinary beauty and fertility (see the notes at Isa 30:9; Isa 32:5).
Shall be a fold of flocks – At the time contemplated here by the prophet – the close of the exile – that whole country would have lain waste about seventy years. Of course, during that long period it would be spread over with a wild luxuriance of trees and shrubs. Once it was celebrated pasture-ground, and was exceedingly beautiful as a place for flocks and herds. Such a place it would be again When the exiles should return, and cultivate their native land. The following description of Sharon, in the spring of 1824, by Mr. Thompson, an American Missionary, will give an idea of the natural appearance of that part of Palestine. The view taken was from a high tower in Ramla. The whole valley of Sharon, from the mountains of Jerusalem to the sea, and from the foot of Carmel to the hills of Gaza, is spread before you like a painted map, and is extremely beautiful, especially at evening, when the last rays of the setting sun gild the distant mountain tops, the weary farmer returns from his labor, and the bleating flocks come frisking and joyful to their fold. At such a time I saw it, and lingered long in pensive meditation, until the stars looked out from the sky, and the cool breezes of evening began to shed soft dews on the feverish land. What a paradise was here when Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, and sang of the roses of Sharon!
And the valley of Achor – This was a valley near to Jericho, and was distinguished as the place where Achan was put to death by stoning Jos 7:24; Jos 15:7; Hos 2:15. The word Achor ( akor), means properly causing affliction, and the name was probably given to that valley from the trouble or affliction which was there caused to the Israelites from the sin of Achan. The phrase, the valley of Achor, would probably thence become a proverbial expression to denote that which caused trouble of any kind. And the sense here probably is, that that which had been to the nation a source of calamity should become a source of blessing – as if a place distinguished for causing trouble should become as celebrated for producing happiness. As that valley had been a source of great trouble on their first entering into the land of Canaan, so it would become a place of great exultation, peace, and joy, on their return from their exile. They would naturally enter Canaan near to that valley, and the place which to them had been once the occasion of so much distress, would be found a quiet and peaceful place where their herds might lie down in safety (compare Hos 2:15).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Sharon – and the valley of Achor] Two of the most fertile parts of Judea; famous for their rich pastures; the former to the west, not far from Joppa; the latter north of Jericho, near Gilgal.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Sharon was a place of great fruitfulness for pastures. Davids herds were kept there, 1Ch 27:29. It was become like a wilderness, Isa 33:9; God here promiseth that it should again be a
place for the flocks. Jer 31:27, God promiseth to sow again the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. The valley of Achor had its name from the stoning of Achan there, Jos 7:26. It is thought to have been the first place the Jews set foot in when they had passed Jordan; hence, Hos 2:15, God promised to make it a door of hope; and here the text saith, the flocks shall lie down. But lest the wicked, idolatrous Jews should apply this promise to themselves, God limiteth it in the last words to the people that had sought him; that is, that had truly worshipped him, according to his own institution; and that the words have the force of such a limitation appeareth from what followeth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Sharon(See on Isa33:9; Isa 35:2).
Achormeaning”trouble”; a valley near Jericho, so called from thetrouble caused to Israel by Achan’s sin (Jos7:24). “The valley of Achor,” proverbial for whatevercaused calamity, shall become proverbial for joy and prosperity (Ho2:15).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks,…. This was a champaign country about Joppa and Lydda, in which were rich pastures for herds and flocks, 1Ch 27:29, it seems to be a prophecy of the conversion of some in those parts, which had its accomplishment in the times of the apostles, Ac 9:35, here Christ had his sheep, and here was a fold for them; or, however, this may be expressive of the word and ordinances, which are like Sharon, green and fat pastures, for the flocks of Christ to be folded and fed in:
and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in; which, Aben Ezra says, was round about Jerusalem; but it was the valley in which Achan was stoned, and because of the trouble he gave to Israel, and had himself, it was called the valley of Achor, Jos 7:26, this the Lord promises shall be given for a door of hope, Ho 2:15 and such the word and ordinances are, where Christ causes his church and people to lie down and rest, So 1:7 and which are an earnest and pledge of future glory and happiness, and give hope thereof; are the firstfruits of it, as the valley of Achor is said to be the first place the children of Israel set footing on, when they had passed over Jordan; it lay to the north of Jericho, over against Ai:
for my people that have sought me; with their whole hearts, being first sought and found by him; [See comments on Isa 65:1].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
From west to east, i.e., in its whole extent, the land then presents the aspect of prosperous peace. “And the plain of Sharon becomes a meadow for flocks, and the valley of Achor a resting-place for oxen, for my people that asketh for me.” Hassharon (Sharon) is the plain of rich pasture-land which stretches along the coast of the Mediterranean from Yafo to the neighbourhood of Carmel. Emeq Akhor is a valley which became renowned through the stoning of Achan, in a range of hills running through the plain of Jericho (see Keil on Jos 7:24.). From the one to the other will the wealth in flocks extend, and in the one as well as in the other will that peace prevail which is now enjoyed by the people of Jehovah, who inquired for Him in the time of suffering, and therefore bear this name in truth. The idyllic picture of peace is thoroughly characteristic of Isaiah: see, for example, Isa 32:20; and for rebhets with naveh , compare Isa 35:7.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
10. And Sharon shall be an abode of flocks. By these figures he means nothing else than that the land, which was a desert, shall be again inhabited; for there is an implied comparison. “Although, in consequence of the banishment of her inhabitants into a distant country, she shall be forsaken and desolate, yet she shall at length be inhabited, so as to abound in flocks and herds, and have lands that are fertile and that are fit for pasture, and supply abundantly everything that is necessary for the food and support of men.” Sharon was a place adapted to pasture, and so was Achor; but the former was adapted to flocks, and the latter to herds.
Here we see that the promises of God contain blessings not only of the future but also of the present life, that we may taste more and more his bounty and kindness; for by the latter (207) we are invited to the greater and more excellent blessings of the heavenly life. When the Lord extends his bounty to flocks and herds, this ought to confirm us the more and make us more certain of his fatherly care and anxiety about us; for if he pays attention to flocks which were created for our sake, much more will he supply us with all that is necessary
“
for the life that now is, and for that which is to come.” (1Ti 4:8.)
Yet we must likewise keep in view the spiritual meaning (of which we have spoken formerly) that leads us from God’s earthly blessing to Christ’s spiritual kingdom, which the prophets shadow out under that image.
For my people. Here also he excludes the reprobate, who were not ashamed of glorying vainly and falsely of the name of God. Although they confidently boast of promises and sacraments, yet they have nothing in common with the children, and, having been shut out from all hope of God’s favors, they receive the reward of their iniquity. By adding, Who have sought me, he describes more plainly who are they that shall be partakers of these benefits, in order that, as has been already said, he may entirely cut off reprobates and hypocrites. The sure mark by which lambs are distinguished from kids, and lawful children from bastards, is to “seek” the Lord; for it is not enough to shelter ourselves under a name and title, but we must seek the Lord with a pure conscience, that we may cleave to him with the whole heart. (Deu 6:5.)
(207) “ Par les biens terriens.” “By earthly blessings.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Sharon.As elsewhere, the name appears in the Hebrew with the articlethe Sharon, the rich plain stretching along the coast from Joppa to the foot of Carmel. The LXX., Josephus, and Strabo render it by the plain, or the woodland. (Comp. Isa. 33:9; Isa. 35:2.)
The valley of Achor.The name, traditionally connected with the sin of Achan (Jos. 7:24-26), belonged to a valley running into the plain of Jericho, and is here taken as the Eastern limit of the region bounded by the Sharon on the west. The whole district was to be as a garden of the Lord for the restored remnant. (Comp. the striking parallelism of Hos. 2:15.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 65:10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Ver. 10. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks. ] The fieldlings shall be folds, and I will feed them daily and daintily Psa 23:1 with my graces and blessings. Sharon is a very sweet and fruitful quarter, reaching from Caesarea of Palestine to Joppa; Achor is also a very rich vale near Jericho northward, Jos 3:16 their first footing in the promised land. By both these they are assured that they shall want for nothing, and least of all for the Word of God, the food of their souls,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Sharon. See note on Isa 33:9. valley of Achor. As in Hos 2:15. The only two references to the history of Joshua 7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Sharon: Isa 33:9, Isa 35:2, Eze 34:13, Eze 34:14
and the: Jos 7:24-26, Hos 2:15
Reciprocal: Jos 7:26 – The valley Jos 15:7 – the valley 1Ch 27:29 – Sharon Isa 5:17 – shall the lambs Jer 33:12 – in all Jer 50:19 – bring Eze 34:15 – General Mic 7:14 – in the midst Zep 3:13 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
65:10 And {n} Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
(n) Which was a plentiful place in Judea to feed sheep, as Achor was for cattle.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The faithful who truly sought the Lord would inhabit the fertile western coastal plain and the barren eastern area west of Jericho, in other words, the whole land. Some interpreters regard both the Sharon and the valley of Achor as favorite places in Palestine. [Note: Watts, Isaiah 34-66, p. 344.] Those who sought the Lord were not necessarily those who engaged in religious activity but those who obeyed His covenant requirements.