Reph'a-im, The valley of. 1 Samuel 5:18; 1 Samuel 5:22; 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15; 1 Chronicles 14:9; Isaiah 17:5; also in Joshua 15:8 and Joshua 18:16. It is translated, in the Authorized Version, "the valley of the giants", a spot which was the scene of some of David's most remarkable adventures. He twice encountered and defeated the Philistines there. 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 2 Samuel 23:13; etc.
Since the latter part of the sixteenth century, the name has been attached to the upland plain, which stretches south of Jerusalem, and is crossed by the road to Bethlehem - the el Buk'ah of the modern Arabs. (This valley begins near the valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem extending toward Bethlehem. It is about a mile long, with hills on either side. This agrees with Josephus and is the generally accepted location of this valley. - Editor). Tobler, however, in his last investigations, conclusively adopts the Wady Der Jasin, on the northwest of Jerusalem. The valley appears to derive its name, from the ancient nation of the Rephaim. See Giants.