Japhia יָפִיעַ
King of Lachish, defeated by Joshua
Who is Japhia in the Bible?
Japhia was the king of Lachish, an Amorite city that resisted the Israelite conquest of Canaan (Joshua 10:3). When the Gibeonites made peace with Israel, Japhia joined forces with Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, and three other Amorite kings to attack Gibeon in retaliation. Joshua responded by marching to Gibeon's defense, and with divine assistance, he defeated the allied Amorite forces and conquered their cities, including Lachish. Japhia's resistance and subsequent defeat illustrate the military opposition Joshua faced during the conquest and underscore God's role in enabling Israel's victory over the Canaanite kingdoms.
Biography
Japhia is mentioned in Jos.10.3 as the king of Lachish, one of the Amorite cities that formed an alliance against the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan. When the people of Gibeon made a peace treaty with Israel, Japhia joined forces with Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, and three other Amorite kings to attack Gibeon. In response, Joshua and the Israelite army came to Gibeon's defense and, with the help of God, defeated the Amorite kings and their armies (Jos.10.1-27). Lachish, along with the other Amorite cities, was conquered by Joshua and the Israelites. The text does not provide any further details about Japhia's life or his fate after the battle.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJoshua 1 verse
- Joshua 10:3
"Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יָפִיעַ |