(Aʹchan) [related through a play on words to Achar, meaning “Bringer of Ostracism (Trouble)”].

The son of Carmi of the household of Zabdi of the family of Zerah of the tribe of Judah; also called Achar.​—1Ch 2:7.

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan, Jehovah explicitly commanded that the firstfruits of the conquest, the city of Jericho, “must become a thing devoted to destruction; . . . it belongs to Jehovah.” Its silver and gold were to be given to the treasury of Jehovah. (Jos 6:17, 19) Achan, however, upon finding a costly garment from Shinar and a 50-shekel gold bar (worth some $6,400) and 200 silver shekels ($440), secretly buried them beneath his tent. (Jos 7:21) Actually he had robbed God! Because of this violation of Jehovah’s explicit instructions, when the next city, Ai, was attacked Jehovah withheld his blessing, and Israel was put to flight. Who was guilty? No one confessed. All Israel was then put on trial. Tribe by tribe, then family by family of the tribe of Judah, and finally, man by man of the house of Zabdi, they passed before Jehovah until Achan “got to be picked.” (Jos 7:4-18) Only then did he admit his sin. Execution quickly followed. Achan, his family (who could hardly have been ignorant of what he had done), and his livestock were first stoned to death, and then burned with fire, together with all his possessions, in the Valley of Achor, meaning “Ostracism; Trouble.”​—Jos 7:19-26.

See ACHAN.

(Achʹbor) [Jerboa; Jumping Rodent].

1. The father of Baal-hanan, who is listed as the seventh king of Edom.​—Ge 36:38, 39; 1Ch 1:49.

2. The son of Micaiah and a trusted official of King Josiah’s court. (2Ki 22:12) He is called “Abdon the son of Micah” at 2 Chronicles 34:20. Upon learning of Jehovah’s burning rage expressed in the ancient book of the Law, only recently discovered, Josiah sent Achbor as one of a committee of five to the prophetess Huldah to learn what should be done. (2Ki 22:8-14) Achbor was the father of Elnathan, a prince of the court of King Jehoiakim, and very likely the great-grandfather of King Jehoiachin.​—Jer 26:22; 36:12; 2Ki 24:8.

(Aʹchim) [possibly from Heb., meaning “May [Jehovah] Firmly Establish”].

A royal descendant of David through Solomon and an ancestor of Joseph the adoptive father of Jesus.​—Mt 1:14.

(Aʹchish).

A Philistine king of Gath who reigned during the time of David and Solomon. He was the son of Maoch or Maacah, and in the superscription of Psalm 34 is called Abimelech, perhaps a title similar to Pharaoh or Czar.​—1Sa 27:2; 1Ki 2:39.

Twice when David was in flight from Saul he found refuge in the domain of King Achish. On the first occasion, when suspected of being an enemy, David feigned insanity, and Achish let him go as a harmless idiot. (1Sa 21:10-15; Ps 34:Sup; 56:Sup) On the second visit David was accompanied by 600 warriors and their families, and so Achish assigned them to live in Ziklag. During the year and four months that they were there Achish believed that David’s band was making raids on Judean towns, whereas David was actually pillaging the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites. (1Sa 27:1-12) So successful was the deception that Achish actually made David his personal bodyguard when the Philistines were organizing an attack on King Saul, and only at the last moment, upon the insistence of the other “axis lords” of the Philistines, were David and his men sent back to Ziklag. (1Sa 28:2; 29:1-11) When David became king and warred against Gath, Achish apparently was not killed. He lived into Solomon’s reign.​—1Ki 2:39-41; see GATH.

(Aʹchor) [Ostracism; Trouble].

A valley or low plain forming part of the NE boundary of the tribal territory of Judah. (Jos 15:7) The valley’s name, meaning “Ostracism; Trouble,” resulted from its being the place where Achan and his household were stoned to death. Achan, by his stealing and hiding some booty from the capture of Jericho, had brought ostracism on the nation of Israel, including defeat at the first attack on Ai.​—Jos 7:5-26.

Some have identified the Valley of Achor with the Wadi el Qilt, a ravinelike torrent valley that passes near Jericho. However, the description of its position as given at Joshua 15:7 appears to place it more to the S, and the statement at Isaiah 65:10 would indicate a broader, more spacious area. In view of this it is tentatively identified with el Buqeiʽa (Biqʽat Hureqanya), a barren, low-lying plateau or basin, that stretches N and S across the Wadi Qumran (Nahal Qumeran) near the NW corner of the Dead Sea. Archaeological investigation there has revealed sites of ancient towns or forts as well as systems of dams.

At Hosea 2:15 Jehovah recalls Israel’s youth at the time of the Exodus, and in a prophecy of restoration from future captivity, he promises that “the low plain of Achor,” once a place of ostracism, will then become “as an entrance to hope.” And, although the area is one of wilderness, in a similar restoration prophecy God foretells that the low