Overview:
Jaffa, also known as Joppa in biblical texts, is an ancient port city located on the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Israel. It holds significant historical and theological importance in the biblical narrative, serving as a backdrop for various events in both the Old and New Testaments.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament:
· Jonah's Flight: Jaffa is famously known as the port from which the prophet Jonah attempted to flee from God's command. In Jonah 1:3 , it is written, "But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD." This event underscores themes of obedience and divine sovereignty.
· Solomon's Temple: Jaffa served as a significant logistical hub during the construction of Solomon's Temple. In 2 Chronicles 2:16 , it is noted, "We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them as rafts by sea to Joppa. From there you can take them up to Jerusalem." This highlights Jaffa's role in facilitating the building of the temple, a central place of worship for the Israelites.

2. New Testament:
· Peter's Vision: In the New Testament, Jaffa is the setting for a pivotal moment in the early Christian church. Acts 10:9-16 describes Peter's vision on the rooftop of Simon the tanner's house in Joppa, where he is shown a sheet with unclean animals and instructed to "kill and eat." This vision is crucial in the expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles, symbolizing the breaking down of Jewish dietary laws and the inclusion of all people in God's salvation plan.
· Raising of Tabitha: Jaffa is also the site of a miracle performed by the Apostle Peter. In Acts 9:36-42 , Peter raises Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) from the dead. This miracle not only demonstrates the power of God working through the apostles but also leads to many in Joppa believing in the Lord.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Jaffa's strategic location as a port city made it a vital point of trade and cultural exchange throughout history. Its mention in various biblical narratives underscores its importance in the ancient world. The city's diverse population and interactions with different cultures are reflected in the biblical accounts, which often highlight themes of divine intervention and the spread of God's message beyond the Jewish people.

Theological Significance:

Jaffa's role in the biblical narrative is multifaceted. It serves as a symbol of God's reach and the fulfillment of His plans, whether through the reluctant prophet Jonah, the construction of the temple, or the early church's mission to the Gentiles. The events in Jaffa illustrate the unfolding of God's redemptive plan and the expansion of His covenant to include all nations.

Modern-Day Jaffa:

Today, Jaffa is part of the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo and remains a vibrant and historically rich area. Its ancient port, archaeological sites, and cultural heritage continue to attract visitors and scholars interested in its biblical and historical significance.

Quaker City Excursion
... From Beirut we sailed down the coast of Palestine, passing Tyre and Sidon.
The steamer anchored off the harbour of Jaffa. Three ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/quaker city excursion.htm

The Good Shepherd.
... The shepherd was going before the sheep, and they followed as he led the way to
the Jaffa gate; we could not but remember the Savior's words: 'When he putteth ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

A Strain of Jonah the Prophet.
... ver.; perhaps Tartessus in Spain. For this question, and the "trustiness" of Joppa
(now Jaffa) as a port, see Pusey on Jonah 1:3. [1204] Ejusdem per signa Dei. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/1 a strain of jonah.htm

The Life of St. George Martyr
... Jerusalem taken by his help. And between Jerusalem and port Jaffa, by a
town called Ramys, is a chapel of St. George which is now ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of st george.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... The region of dunes is not necessarily barren, and the towns situated in it"Gaza,
Jaffa, Ashdod, and Ascalon"are surrounded by flourishing orchards and ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Canaan
... Southward were Dor and Joppa, the modern Jaffa, while inland were Zemar and Arqa,
mentioned in the Book of Genesis and the Tel el-Amarna correspondence, but ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... More than three centuries after it was still related how one of them, by name Thutii,
had reduced and humbled Jaffa, whose chief had refused to come to terms. ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

In Judaea
... There can be no question of the situation of Joppa, the modern Jaffa, where Peter
saw the vision which opened the door of the Church to the Gentiles. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... the banks of some river. He rejoined his ships, probably at Jaffa, and
made straight for the enemy. The latter were encamped on ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... the Nile to the Euphrates: first section from Zalu to Gaza-The Canaanites: their
fortresses, their agricultural character: the forest between Jaffa and Mount ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Jaffa (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jaffa (10 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Acts 9:42 This incident
became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord; (WEY). ...
/j/jaffa.htm - 9k

Jabneel (2 Occurrences)
... Built by God. (1.) A town in the north boundary of Judah (Joshua 15:11), called
afterwards by the Greeks Jamnia, the modern Yebna, 11 miles south of Jaffa. ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Emmaus (1 Occurrence)
... Midrash. It is now the modern mud-village of `Amwas, 20 miles along, and
a little North of, the main road from Jerusalem to Jaffa. ...
/e/emmaus.htm - 10k

Sharon (9 Occurrences)
... Nahr el-`Aujeh enters the sea to the North of Jaffa; Nahr Iskanderuneh 7 miles,
and Nahr el-Mefjir fully 2 miles South of Caesarea; and Nahr ez-Zerqa, the ...
/s/sharon.htm - 13k

Joppa (14 Occurrences)
... 43). It bears the modern name of Jaffa, and exibituds all the decrepitude
and squalor of cities ruled over by the Turks. "Scarcely ...
/j/joppa.htm - 17k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... is now represented by the modern village of Yebna which stands upon a hill a little
to the South of the Nahr Rubin, about 12 or 13 miles South of Jaffa, on the ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Staying (39 Occurrences)
... (WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV). Acts 9:43 and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa,
staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner. (WEY). ...
/s/staying.htm - 17k

Salim (1 Occurrence)
... 14:8), and "the sea of the Philis" (Exodus 23:31), which, of course, applies especially
to the part washing the shore of Philistia, from Jaffa southward. ...
/s/salim.htm - 15k

Fetch (45 Occurrences)
... jail to fetch the Apostles. (WEY). Acts 10:5 And now send to Jaffa and fetch
Simon, surnamed Peter. (WEY ASV DBY). Acts 10:32 Send ...
/f/fetch.htm - 24k

Hinnom (11 Occurrences)
... The Wady er-Rababi commences in a shallow, open valley due West of the Jaffa Gate,
in the center of which lies the Birket Mamilla; near the Jaffa Gate it turns ...
/h/hinnom.htm - 18k

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