Me-jarkon
Me-jarkon is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Coastal Plain in modern-day Israel. Known today as Yarkon River. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Me-jarkon, meaning "waters of the Jarkon" or "waters of yellowness," appears in Joshua 19:46 as part of the territorial allotment assigned to the tribe of Dan. It is listed alongside Rakkon and the area opposite Joppa in defining Dan's coastal inheritance. The reference likely denotes the area around the Yarkon River, a perennial stream flowing westward into the Mediterranean near modern Tel Aviv. Dan's allotment included a section of the coastal plain, though the tribe famously struggled to take full possession of its territory due to pressure from the Amorites and later the Philistines (Judges 1:34). This inability to hold their inheritance eventually led a portion of the Danites to migrate northward and conquer Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18). The Me-jarkon region, with its reliable water source, would have been prime agricultural land, making it all the more significant that Dan could not maintain control. The site represents the tension between divine promise and the challenge of faithful obedience in the conquest narratives.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Me-jarkon is identified with the Yarkon River (Nahal Yarkon), the largest coastal river in central Israel. The river originates at the springs of Tel Afek (Antipatris) and flows approximately 27 kilometers westward to the Mediterranean Sea near Tel Aviv. The Yarkon's perennial flow, fed by springs from the limestone aquifer, made it a critical water source throughout antiquity. Archaeological sites along its banks include Tel Afek, which has been extensively excavated, revealing Egyptian, Canaanite, Philistine, and Israelite remains spanning several millennia. Tel Qasile, at the river's mouth, yielded an important Philistine temple complex. The river and its surrounding wetlands served as a natural boundary and strategic corridor throughout biblical history.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →