Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 19:46
And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
46. Me-jarkon, and Rakkon ] still remain to be discovered.
with the border before Japho ] i.e. with the whole district extending to the suburbs opposite to Japho.
Japho ] (= “ beauty ”) is the Hebrew form of the more familiar Joppa (2Ch 2:16; Eze 3:7). It was situated on the south-west coast of Palestine, and having a harbour attached to it was afterwards the port of Jerusalem. It was the spot ( a) whither the cedar and pinewood were floated from Phnicia by Hiram, king of Tyre, for Solomon’s temple (2Ch 2:16); ( b) whither similar materials were conveyed by the permission of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the second temple under Zerubbabel (Eze 3:7); ( c) where Jonah took ship to flee “from the presence of the Lord” (Jon 1:3); ( d) where Jonathan Maccabus met Ptolemy ( 1Ma 11:6 ); ( e) where St Peter had the vision on the housetop of Simon the tanner (Act 10:9-18). On the east the town is surrounded by a wide circle of gardens and groves of noble trees. “The figs and oranges of Joppa are noted for their size and flavour. The water-melons, which thrive on the sandy soil around, are in great repute, and are carried in great numbers to Alexandria and Cairo. Through all Syria, too, they have a reputation. The horticulturist Bov, who visited the place in 1832, observed three kinds of figs, apricots, almonds, pomegranates, peaches, oranges, pears, and apples, plums, bananas and grapes, while the sugar-cane grows to the height of five or six feet.” Ritter, Geog. Pal. iv. 259. In a.d. 1188 Saladin destroyed its fortifications, to be rebuilt by Richard of England, who was here confined by sickness. In 1253 it was occupied by St Louis, and afterwards fell into the hands first of the Sultans of Egypt and then of the Turks.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Japho (the modern Jaffa, or Yafa), elsewhere (see the margin) called Joppa, is often mentioned in the history of the Maccabees and was, as it still is, the leading port of access to Jerusalem both for pilgrims and for merchandise. It is a very ancient town.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 46. Japho.] The place since called Joppa, lying on the Mediterranean, and the chief sea-port, in the possession of the twelve tribes.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And Mejarkon, and Rakkon,…. Of the two first of these we read no where else.
with the border before Japho; Japho is the same with Joppa, now called at this day Jaffa, a port in the Mediterranean sea, famous for being the place where Jonah took shipping, [See comments on Jon 1:3]; and where the Apostle Peter resided some time, [See comments on Ac 9:36]; and
[See comments on Ac 9:38]. It is not certain whether Joppa itself was in the tribe of Dan, or only on the borders of it; the coast of Dan reached “over against” it, as it may be rendered, and included the villages and little cities that were near it; for such there were, as Josephus b testifies.
b De Bello Jud. l. 3. c. 8. sect. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
[ 46. Japho The ancient Joppa, modern Jaffa, the famous seaport town of Palestine, distinguishable alike in sacred and common history. Hither the Lebanon timber was brought in floats for building Solomon’s temple, (2Ch 2:16,) and also for the second temple under Zerubbabel. Ezr 3:7. Here Jonah embarked when he sought to flee from the presence of Jehovah. Here Peter raised Tabitha, and here was the house of Simon the tanner, where Peter had his vision. See cut of modern town at Act 9:42.]
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 46. Me-jarkon,Rakkon,Japho Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, that is Jarkon-Japho. Hiller. Onomast. 915. The two first are unknown; but were probably situated near Japho. This city, known afterwards by the name of Joppa, was the principal sea-port town in all Judaea, and mentioned as such by Pomponius Mela, Strabo, and Pliny; indeed, it continues to be so to this day, being now called Jaffa, a name which in the Hebrew signifies fair or beautiful. The author does not (as Eusebius seems to have understood him) say positively, that Japho was given to the Danites; he only says, that their portion extended to the lands which lay opposite those which belonged to this city.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
before: or, over against
Japho: or, Joppa, Jon 1:3, Act 9:36, Act 9:43, Act 10:8
Reciprocal: 2Ch 2:16 – as much as thou shalt need
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
19:46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before {k} Japho.
(k) Called Joppa.