JAPHIA jə fī’ ə (יָפִֽיעַ). 1. King of Lachish, a city SW of Jerusalem. Its king formed a league with four other Amorite kings to punish Gibeon for submitting to the Israelites. Joshua defeated them in battle at Beth-horon, killed the five kings and cast their bodies into a cave (Josh 10:3ff.).

2. One of David’s sons born to him at Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:15; 1 Chron 3:7; 14:6).

3. A town on the S border of Zebulun (Josh 19:13). It is identified with Yafa, c. 1 1/2 m. SW of Nazareth. Josephus fortified it in the Rom. war (Jos. Life. 45; Jos. War. II. xx. 6).