Joshua 19:46

And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.

And Mejarkon {H4313}, and Rakkon {H7542}, with the border {H1366} before {H4136} Japho {H3305}.

Yarkon Springs and Rakon, with the border fronting Yafo.

Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory across from Joppa.

and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.

Commentary

Joshua 19:46 is a concise verse detailing specific boundary markers within the territory allotted to the tribe of Dan during the division of the Promised Land. It lists the towns Mejarkon and Rakkon, noting their location with respect to the significant coastal city of Japho.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in the Book of Joshua, specifically Joshua 19:40-48, which describes the inheritance given to the tribe of Dan. Following the conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, the land was meticulously divided among the twelve tribes of Israel by lot, as commanded by God. The detailed listing of towns and geographical features like Mejarkon and Rakkon, along with the prominent coastal city of Japho (modern Joppa or Jaffa), underscores the precision with which the tribal territories were defined.

The placement of Dan's border near Japho indicates their territory extended to the Mediterranean Sea, granting them access to a vital ancient port. However, despite this initial allocation, the tribe of Dan later struggled to fully possess their inheritance due to pressure from the Amorites and Philistines. This ultimately led to their migration northward to Leshem/Laish, a story recounted in Judges 18, highlighting the challenges they faced in securing their divinely appointed land.

Key Themes

  • Divine Fulfillment of Promise: The detailed territorial descriptions, including this verse, highlight God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:18).
  • Meticulous Order and Detail: The precise naming of even lesser-known places like Mejarkon and Rakkon, alongside prominent ones like Japho, demonstrates the thoroughness and orderliness of God's plan for His people and the careful execution of the land division.
  • Geographical Significance: The mention of "Japho" (Joppa) is highly significant as it was a major ancient port city. It is later known for events such as Jonah embarking on a ship to Tarshish and Peter raising Dorcas from the dead. Its inclusion in Dan's territory speaks to the strategic importance of the coastal region.

Linguistic Insights

The names "Mejarkon" and "Rakkon" are ancient place names, whose exact locations are debated by scholars but are generally believed to be near the coast north of Japho. "Japho" (Hebrew: Χ™ΦΈΧ€Χ•ΦΉ, Yafo) is the biblical name for the city now known as Jaffa or Joppa. It means "beautiful" or "fair" and is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited port cities, serving as a gateway to the Holy Land.

Practical Application

While seemingly a mere geographical listing, Joshua 19:46 reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Faithfulness in Detail: God's promises are not vague but are fulfilled with precision, even down to the specific borders of a tribe's inheritance. This encourages us to trust in God's meticulous care for every aspect of our lives and His plans for us.
  • Understanding Our Inheritance: Just as the tribes received a physical inheritance, believers today have a spiritual inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11). This verse can prompt reflection on understanding and living into the blessings and responsibilities of that inheritance.
  • The Significance of Seemingly Small Details: Every part of Scripture, even a list of ancient place names, holds significance within God's larger narrative of redemption and His dealings with humanity, contributing to the complete picture of His faithfulness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 2:16

    And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

  • Acts 9:36

    ΒΆ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

  • Acts 9:43

    And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

  • Acts 10:8

    And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

  • Jonah 1:3

    But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
← Back