Dictionaries :: Rephaim, the Valley Of

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Rephaim, the Valley Of:

(1 Samuel 5:18; 5:22; 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15; 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; 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.-ED.) 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].