Jaffa in the Torah
יפו
The ancient port city from which Jonah tried to flee from God's command. Jaffa (Joppa) served as the main seaport for Jerusalem throughout biblical times. Cedar logs from Lebanon were floated to Jaffa for the construction of both Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple. Today it is part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, blending ancient history with modern life.
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Godot13 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Key Verses
4 selected passages mentioning Jaffa
Cedar trees from Lebanon brought by sea to Joppa for the Second Temple
וַיִּ֨תְּנוּ־כֶ֔סֶף לַחֹצְבִ֖ים וְלֶחָרָשִׁ֑ים וּמַאֲכָ֨ל וּמִשְׁתֶּ֜ה וָשֶׁ֗מֶן לַצִּֽדֹנִים֙ וְלַצֹּרִ֔ים לְהָבִיא֩ עֲצֵ֨י אֲרָזִ֤ים מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ אֶל־יָ֣ם יָפ֔וֹא כְּרִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}
They paid the hewers and artisans with money, and the Sidonians and Tyrians with food, drink, and oil to bring cedarwood from Lebanon by sea to Joppa, in accord with the authorization granted them by King Cyrus of Persia.
We will float timber from Lebanon by sea to Joppa
וַ֠אֲנַ֠חְנוּ נִכְרֹ֨ת עֵצִ֤ים מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ כְּכׇל־צׇרְכֶּ֔ךָ וּנְבִיאֵ֥ם לְךָ֛ רַפְסֹד֖וֹת עַל־יָ֣ם יָפ֑וֹ וְאַתָּ֛ה תַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
We undertake to cut down as many trees of Lebanon as you need, and deliver them to you as rafts by sea to Jaffa; you will transport them to Jerusalem.”
Jonah goes down to Joppa and finds a ship fleeing toward Tarshish
וַיָּ֤קׇם יוֹנָה֙ לִבְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ וַיִּמְצָ֥א אֳנִיָּ֣ה ׀ בָּאָ֣ה תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜הּ וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּהּ֙ לָב֤וֹא עִמָּהֶם֙ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃
Jonah, however, started out to flee to Tarshish from GOD’s service. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went aboard to sail with the others to Tarshish, away from GOD’s service.
The territory of Dan includes the area opposite Joppa
וּמֵ֥י הַיַּרְק֖וֹן וְהָרַקּ֑וֹן עִֽם־הַגְּב֖וּל מ֥וּל יָפֽוֹ׃
Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, at the border near Joppa.
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