*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Japho (the modern Jaffa, or Yafa), elsewhere (see the margin) called Joppa, is often mentioned in the history of the Maccabees and was, as it still is, the leading port of access to Jerusalem both for pilgrims and for merchandise. It is a very ancient town.
Japho - The place since called Joppa, lying on the Mediterranean, and the chief sea-port, in the possession of the twelve tribes.
And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before (k) Japho.
(k) Called Joppa.
And Mejarkon, and Rakkon,.... Of the two first of these we read no where else.
with the border before Japho; Japho is the same with Joppa, now called at this day Jaffa, a port in the Mediterranean sea, famous for being the place where Jonah took shipping; see Gill on Jonah 1:3; and where the Apostle Peter resided some time; see Gill on Acts 9:36; and See Gill on Acts 9:38. It is not certain whether Joppa itself was in the tribe of Daniel, or only on the borders of it; the coast of Daniel reached "over against" it, as it may be rendered, and included the villages and little cities that were near it; for such there were, as Josephus (b) testifies.
(b) De Bello Jude. l. 3. c. 8. sect. 4.
Me-jarkon, i.e., aquae flavedinis, and Rakkon, are unknown; but from the clause which follows, "with the territory before Japho," it must have been in the neighbourhood of Joppa (Jaffa). "The territory before Japho" includes the places in the environs of Joppa. Consequently Joppa itself does not appear to have belonged to the territory of Daniel, although, according to Judges 5:17, the Danites must have had possession of this town. Japho, the well-known port of Palestine (2-Chronicles 2:15; Ezra 3:7; Jonah 1:3), which the Greeks called Ἰόππη (Joppa), the present Jaffa (see v. Raumer, Pal. pp. 204-5, and Ritter, Erdk. xvi. pp. 574ff.).
*More commentary available at chapter level.