Rephaim
“Giants; or the weak, shades”
Summary
The Rephaim were an ancient race of giants inhabiting Canaan before the Israelite conquest, whose name later came to denote the shades of the dead in the underworld.
☩The Ancient Race
The Rephaim were one of the aboriginal races of Canaan, first mentioned in the promise to Abraham concerning the land his descendants would possess. They were known for their exceptional height and strength, causing terror among those who encountered them. Related peoples included the Emim in Moab and the Zamzummim (or Zuzim) among the Ammonites, all considered branches of the Rephaim. Og king of Bashan was described as 'of the remnant of the Rephaim,' and his iron bedstead measured nine cubits long.
☩Giants in Israel's History
The giant inhabitants of Canaan greatly discouraged the Israelite spies, who reported, 'We were in our own sight as grasshoppers.' After the conquest, remnants of the Rephaim survived among the Philistines at Gath, including Goliath and his kinsmen, who were eventually slain by David and his mighty men. These Philistine giants are described as 'born to the Rapha' or 'sons of the giant,' connecting them to the ancient Rephaim.
☩The Shades and the Valley
In Hebrew poetry, the term Rephaim came to designate the spirits of the departed dwelling in Sheol, translated as 'the dead' or 'shades.' This usage appears in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah, where the Rephaim are pictured in the underworld, powerless and unable to praise God. The Valley of Rephaim, a fertile plain southwest of Jerusalem, was a frequent battlefield; here David twice defeated the Philistines with divine guidance.
Related Verses17 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rephaim," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rephaim," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Rephaim," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).