The Valley of Achor

With reference to Hosea 2:14-15—There is reason to believe, that from the Idumaean Bozrah the Rainbowed Angel advances to the plains of Moab; and compassing the north end of the Dead Sea, crosses the Jordan into the plains of Jericho, according to the signification of the things represented in the passage of that river in the days of Joshua. According to Hosea, Israel is allured and brought into the wilderness (of Paran). From thence, Solomon sees them coming up from the wilderness leaning for support upon the beloved (Cant. viii. 5); "coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke" (iii. 6). "I will bring her into the wilderness," saith the Spirit, "and I will give her vineyards from thence, and the Valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she (Hephzibah and Beulah, with their inhabitants, the Messiah’s national bride -- Isa. lxii. 4,5,12) shall sing there, as in the days of her youth (the days of Joshua), and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt" (Hos. ii. 14,15). The Valley of Achor near Jericho, is "a door of hope;" when the Rainbowed Angel has led Israel to this encampment, it is only the earnest of the restoration of "the whole house of Israel." He has overthrown the king of the north throughout the land. The country has been evacuated; but the national graves of Israel have not yet been opened. They had been gathered "one by one" into the wilderness of Egypt; yet multitudes continued in the Assyrian empire, ready to perish, especially, too, since the overthrow of the Assyrian upon the mountains of Israel (Isa. xxvii. 12,13; xxiv. 25). The van only of Israel’s hosts had entered the door under the rainbow-banner; but from the plains of Jericho they looked in hope, sure and certain, of "the restitution of all things which the Deity hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, ap’ aionos," from the beginning of the Mosaic dispensation (Acts iii. 21).