Definition: And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Explanation: Okay, letโs break down this verse from Joshua 7:26 together. Itโs a really important and dramatic passage in the Bible! Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Story: The Israelites Were Angry: The Israelites were about to defeat the Philistines (a tribe of people) when they were incredibly angry. They were feeling threatened and restless. They Built a Huge Wall: As a punishment for their anger, God decided to punish them by building a massive wall around the land. This wall was so big it covered an entire valley! God Turned Away from Anger: God saw that the Israelites' anger was too intense and caused them to be restless. He felt they werenโt ready to fight peacefully. So, he decided to stop the fighting and let the punishment fall upon them. The Valley of Achor is Born: He then instructed the people to build a huge pile of stones โ a โheapโ โ right in the middle of this valley. This pile was meant to represent the consequence of their anger. What it Means Figuratively (and somewhat poetically): Achor is a Place of Suffering: The Hebrew word "Achor" means a place of suffering, hardship, and drought. Itโs a condition where life is difficult and lacks prosperity. The Wall as Punishment: The wall itself represents the oppressive and unjust anger that was causing the problems. The Stones Represent Consequences: The pile of stones symbolizes the consequences of the Israelites' anger โ a long period of drought, famine, and hardship. Itโs like a constant reminder of their mistakes. In short, this verse is about Godโs judgment on the Israelites because they were consumed by anger and causing trouble. He chose to punish them with a massive, enduring consequence. Do you want me to: Explain any part of it in more detail? Give you an analogy that relates to the concept?