Rephaim, Valley of

Valley of Rephaim, a valley beginning adjacent to the valley of Hinnom, south-west of Jerusalem, and stretching away south-west on the right of the road to Bethlehem (Jos 15:8; Jos 17:15; Jos 18:16; 2Sa 5:18; 2Sa 5:22). This name corroborates the presumption that the Rephaim were originally west of the Jordan.

(emeq). 2Sa 5:17-18; 2Sa 5:22; 2Sa 23:13; 1Ch 11:15; 1Ch 14:9; Isa 17:5. In Jos 15:8; Jos 18:16, it is translated "the valley of the giants." The scene of David’s twice routing the Philistines utterly and destroying their idols; so that it was named Perazim, God breaking forth there upon David’s foes (for they came to seek him to avenge their old quarrel, on hearing of his accession); a type of God’s future utter overthrow of the church’s last foes (Isa 28:21-22).(See PERAZIM.) The Philistines came in harvest time to the valley, to carry off the ripe crops, in 2Sa 23:13; Isa 17:5.

Joshua (Jos 15:8) says Judah’s boundary "went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley, of Rephaim ("giants") northward." The most northern point of the valley of Rephaim was at the summit that terminated the valley of Hinnom on the W. Its proximity to Bethlehem is implied in 2Sa 23:13-17. Bethlehem was S. of Jerusalem. Moreover, the Philistines’ natural line of march to Jerusalem would be from the S.W. Hence it is likely the valley of Rephaim is the wide elevated plain which, beginning at the top of the valley of Hinnom, stretches S. along the road to Bethlehem, but gradually bends W. until it contracts into the narrow, deep valley, wady el Werd.

[Repha’im]

A valley on the south of Jerusalem, in which the Philistines gathered themselves against Israel, and where David twice signally defeated them. 2Sa 5:18; 2Sa 5:22; 2Sa 23:13; 1Ch 11:15; 1Ch 14:9-17; Isa 17:5. In the A.V. it is twice called the ’VALLEY OF THE GIANTS.’ Jos 15:8; Jos 18:16. Identified with el Bukeia, 31° 45’ N, 35° 13’ E.