Isaiah 65:10
Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The promise isn't just about restoring barren lands; it's about reclaiming places associated with deep pain and sin, like the Valley of Achor, and transforming them into peaceful resting spots. This highlights God's power to redeem not only places but also situations and histories that were once marked by affliction and divine judgment.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing God's ultimate restoration and blessing upon His faithful people, contrasting their future with the judgment awaiting the unfaithful. The verses immediately preceding speak of God actively seeking and finding those who previously did not seek Him, while rejecting those who stubbornly clung to their own ways and traditions. This verse promises a return to prosperity and peace in the land for those who are devoted to God.
Understand the original words
darash · Hebrew Verb
To look for, inquire of, or pursue God's presence and will. It denotes a heart posture of earnest reliance and a desire to be found in relationship with Him.
Isaiah's prophecy envisions a restored land where places associated with past sin (Valley of Achor) and natural beauty (Plain of Sharon) become symbols of God's grace and provision for His people returning from exile.
c. 1406 BC
Achan's Sin and the Conquest of Ai
During the initial conquest of Canaan, Achan stole forbidden plunder, leading to Israel's defeat at Ai. The subsequent discovery and punishment of Achan in the Valley of Achor marked this region with a name signifying trouble.
c. 10th Century BC
Solomon's Reign and the Rose of Sharon
The Plain of Sharon was renowned for its beauty and fertility, even being poetically celebrated in the Song of Solomon for its roses, symbolizing a time of peace and prosperity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Babylonians marked a devastating period of exile for the people of Judah, leaving their land desolate and their national identity shattered.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Cyrus's Edict and Return from Exile
The Persian Empire under Cyrus allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple, initiating a period of restoration and repopulation.
This passage also speaks of the Valley of Achor, transforming it from a 'valley of trouble' into a 'door of hope,' paralleling the idea of a place of past sorrow becoming a place of blessing.
Isaiah 35:7This verse describes the transformation of the wilderness into a pool and the parched land into springs of water, echoing Isaiah 65:10's theme of barren or difficult places becoming fruitful and hospitable.
Isaiah 65:21-22These verses describe the future dwelling and enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, directly connecting to the idea of restored prosperity and security for God's people implied in Isaiah 65:10.
Ezekiel 34:25-26This prophecy promises a time when God's people will dwell securely and the land will yield its produce, reflecting the peace and abundance described in Isaiah 65:10.
barnesIsaiah 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."
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 Isaiah 30:9 ; Isaiah 32:5 ). Shall be a fold of flocks - At the time contemplated here by…
clarkeIsaiah 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."
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.
The promise isn't just about restoring barren lands; it's about reclaiming places associated with deep pain and sin, like the Valley of Achor, and transforming them into peaceful resting spots. This highlights God's power to redeem not only places but also situations and histories that were once marked by affliction and divine judgment.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing God's ultimate restoration and blessing upon His faithful people, contrasting their future with the judgment awaiting the unfaithful. The verses immediately preceding speak of God actively seeking and finding those who previously did not seek Him, while rejecting those who stubbornly clung to their own ways and traditions. This verse promises a return to prosperity and peace in the land for those who are devoted to God.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing God's ultimate restoration and blessing upon His faithful people, contrasting their future with the judgment awaiting the unfaithful. The verses immediately preceding speak of God actively seeking and finding those who previously did not seek Him, while rejecting those who stubbornly clung to their own ways and traditions. This verse promises a return to prosperity and peace in the land for those who are devoted to God.
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c. 515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people, though facing hardship, completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of their renewed covenant with God.
"Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me." — The promise isn't just about restoring barren lands; it's about reclaiming places associated with deep pain and sin, like the Valley of Achor, and transforming them into peaceful resting spots. This…
