Rephaim, Valley of

(Josh. 15:8; 18:16, R.V.). When David became king over all Israel, the Philistines, judging that he would now become their uncompromising enemy, made a sudden attack upon Hebron, compelling David to retire from it. He sought refuge in “the hold” at Adullam (2 Sam. 5:17-22), and the Philistines took up their position in the valley of Rephaim, on the west and south-west of Jerusalem. Thus all communication between Bethlehem and Jerusalem was intercepted. While David and his army were encamped here, there occurred that incident narrated in 2 Sam. 23:15-17. Having obtained divine direction, David led his army against the Philistines, and gained a complete victory over them. The scene of this victory was afterwards called Baalperazim (q.v.). A second time, however, the Philistines rallied their forces in this valley (2 Sam. 5:22). Again warned by a divine oracle, David led his army to Gibeon, and attacked the Philistines from the south, inflicting on them another severe defeat, and chasing them with great slaughter to Gezer (q.v.). There David kept in check these enemies of Israel. This valley is now called el-Bukei’a.

REPH'AIM, VAL'LEY OF. It is first mentioned in Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16, and there translated "the valley of the giants." It was one of the landmarks of the land of Judah; named after the Rephaim, or "giants," who at an early period were found on both sides of the Jordan. Comp. Gen 14:5; Deut 3:11-13; Josh 13:12; Lev 17:15. David twice defeated the Philistines in this valley. 2 Sam 5:17-25; 2 Sam 23:13; 1 Chr 11:15-16; 1 Chr 14:9-16. The valley was noted for its fertility. Isa 17:5. Its position as a boundary of Judah would indicate it to have been south of the valley of Hinnom. On the road to Bethlehem there is a cultivated plain about a mile long, bordered on both sides by hills, and gradually sloping into a deep valley at the south-west, called Wadi el-Werd, or "the valley of roses." This plain is called Beka'a by the Arabs, and since the sixteenth century an attempt has been made to identify it with the valley of Rephaim. Tobler proposed to identify Rephaim with the Wady der Yasin, to the west-north-west of Jerusalem, but this would contradict the account of Josephus, and the other location is quite generally accepted.