Israel © MEA-20180321 (FD) History of Israel -Jaffa Port Entrance
History of Israel -Jaffa Port Entrance
Today, the port of Jaffa, (Yafo in Hebrew) stands as a monument to a rich and ancient past that has survived many conquests by invaders and settlers alike. Surrounding the walled city with its high clock tower, are houses, shops, restaurants, parks and gardens, historical churches and a mosque. Jaffa, which is also called Japho or Joppa is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest city, and lays claim to be the city which Yaphet (Jaffet) the son of Noah built after the Great Flood. Its name is derived from the Hebrew yafeh, meaning ‘beauty’.
Archaeological digs and ancient papyrus documents reveal that Jaffa existed as a seaport more than 4,000 years ago, suggesting it is the world’s oldest harbor in continual use. However, over time, Jaffa ceased to function as a major trading harbor because of the port’s narrow entrance, through which only small ships could enter. Today it’s a port for local fishing boats and small yachts. Israel’s main shipping now uses the ports of Ashdod and Haifa. Still, it’s easy to imagine the old days where traders arrived by sea – transferring their goods to camel caravans, destination Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, Yemen, Baghdad and beyond.
Historically, Jaffa has been occupied by the Egyptian, Hebrew, Babylonian, and Hittite Empires from 1700 to 1400 B.C.E., the Median, Chaldean and Lydian Empires during 600 B.C.E., the Persian Empire in 500 B.C.E., Alexander’s Hellenistic Empire beginning 323 B.C.E., the Roman and Parthian Empires from 117 B.C.E.; Persian, Sassanid and Byzantine Empires up to the 7th Century; followed by the Islamic Empire; Crusaders, Egyptians and others, up until the Turkish Empire in the 16th Century. The Ottomans were defeated by Napoleon who, in 1799 captured the city of Jaffa during the Napoleonic Wars. The British Empire occupied the area up until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
The Bible records that the great cedar trees from Lebanon, required for King Solomon’s Temple were transported through Jaffa on their way to Jerusalem; the Apostle Peter performed many miracles in and around Jaffa, and; the story of Jonah records that Jonah fled in a ship from Yoppa (Jaffa) to avoid God’s instruction to go to Nineveh.
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