Bible Encyclopedias
Rephaim, Vale of

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

( רפאים עמק , ‛ēmeḳ rephā'ı̄m ; κοιλὰς Ῥαφαείμ , koilás Rhaphaeı́m , κοιλὰς τῶν Τιτάνων , koilás tṓn Titánōn ): This was a fertile vale ( Isaiah 17:5 ), to the Southwest of Jerusalem (Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16; the King James Version "Valley of the Giants"), on the border between Judah and Benjamin. Here David repeatedly defeated the invading Philistines (2 Samuel 5:18 , 2 Samuel 5:22; 2 Samuel 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15; 1 Chronicles 14:9 ). It is located by Josephus between Jerusalem and Bethlehem (Ant. , VII, iv, 1; xii, 4). It corresponds to the modern el -Biḳa‛ , which falls away to the Southwest from the lip of the valley of Hinnom. The name in ancient times may perhaps have covered a larger area, including practically all the land between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where the head-waters of Nahr Rubı̄n are collected.