Joppa (Jaffa)

Also known as Japho, Joppe, el-Qal'a, Tel Aviv, 'Yafa, Yafa el-'Atiqa, Yafo

Tel Aviv

The biblical town of Joppa is today known as Jaffa. This was the main port of the coast before the Israelis constructed the ports of Haifa and Ashdod. The modern city of Tel Aviv was founded on the outskirts of Jaffa in 1909 and today it encompasses the ancient city. Tel Aviv means “the Hill of Spring” and it is the same name as the city of a settlement in Babylon during the Exile (Ezek 3:15). Today the Tel Aviv area is the largest metropolitan area in Israel.

Joppa

Jaffa is located about 30 miles (48 km) south of Caesarea. The modern population of Jaffa is about 60,000. Today Jaffa has a Jewish majority (mostly from other Mid-Eastern and North African countries) with a sizeable Arab Christian and Muslim population. The name Joppa appears for the first time in the list of cities that Thutmose III captured (15th c. B.C.). The legend of Andromeda being bound to the rock was first associated with Joppa by Strabo (1st century A.D.).

The Harbor

Jaffa is one of the oldest functioning harbors in the world. Today it harbors only small fishing boats. This was the port to which Jonah came when fleeing from the Lord to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). For the construction of Solomon's Temple, cedars were floated from Phoenicia to Joppa and then transported to Jerusalem (2 Chr 2:16). Jaffa was the main port of entry during the Turkish period and pilgrims and visitors would enter the Holy Land here.

St. Peter's Church

Peter came to Joppa from Lydda to raise Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). While in Joppa, the apostle stayed at the house of Simon the Tanner. When Peter was praying on the roof, he had a vision of a large sheet filled with animals being lowered from heaven (Acts 9:43-10:23), signaling to him to go with the messengers from Cornelius. The Church of St. Peter marks the traditional site of Peter’s vision of the great sheet.

Related Websites

Jaffa (Christian Travel Study Programs) Briefly introduces the site and its biblical significance.

Joppa (Ancient Routes) Presents information on the geography and history of the site.

Jaffa (The Jewish Magazine) Informative discussion about the history and archaeology of the site as well as some of the legends about it.

Jaffa (Catholic Encyclopedia) Recounts the history of the city from the time of the Israelite conquest until the modern era.

The Conquest of Jaffa (The Irgun Site) Describes the Jewish attack on Jaffa in 1948 and the reasons for it.

Jaffa City Home Page (Personal Website) A website devoted to providing information about the city. Has gathered together several essays on a variety of topics.

Jaffa (PalestineRemembered.com) A Palestinian website that provides information about the city and its history. Contains a large number of pictures from throughout the 20th century.