Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 65:10

"And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me." — Isaiah 65:10 (ASV)

And Sharon - Sharon was properly a district south of Mount Carmel, along the coast of the Mediterranean, and extending from Caesarea to Joppa. In 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 the prophet—the close of the exile—that whole country would have lain waste for 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 Jericho, and was distinguished as the place where Achan was put to death by stoning (Joshua 7:24; Joshua 15:7; Hosea 2:15). The word Achor (עכור ‛âkôr), properly means “causing affliction,” and the name was probably given to that valley from the trouble or affliction which was caused there to the Israelites from the sin of Achan. The phrase, ‘the valley of Achor,’ would probably as a result become a proverbial expression to denote that which caused trouble of any kind. And the sense here probably is, that what had been a source of calamity to the nation would 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 when they first entered the land of Canaan, so it would become a place of great exultation, peace, and joy, when they returned from their exile. They would naturally enter Canaan near that valley, and the place which had once been to them the occasion of so much distress, would be found a quiet and peaceful place where their herds might lie down in safety .