Rephidim

Supports, one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady esh-Sheikh. Here no water could be found for the people to drink, and in their impatience they were ready to stone Moses, as if he were the cause of their distress. At the command of God Moses smote “the rock in Horeb,” and a copious stream flowed forth, enough for all the people. After this the Amalekites attacked the Israelites while they were here encamped, but they were utterly defeated (Ex. 17:1, 8-16). They were the “first of the nations” to make war against Israel (Num. 24:20). Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites advanced into the wilderness of Sinai (Ex. 19:1, 2; Num. 33:14, 15), marching probably through the two passes of the Wady Solaf and the Wady esh-Sheikh, which converge at the entrance to the plain er-Rahah, the “desert of Sinai,” which is two miles long and about half a mile broad. (See SINAI; MERIBAH.)

(Exodus 17:1,8; 19:2) The name means rests or stays, i.e. resting places. The place lies in the march of the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai. Its site is not certain, but it is perhaps Wady Feiran, a rather broad valley about 25 miles from Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai). Others place it in Wady es Sheikh, an eastern continuation of Feiran, and about 12 miles from Sinai. Here the Israelites fought their first battle and gained their first victory after leaving Egypt, the Amalekites having attacked them; here also the people murmured from thirst, and Moses brought water for them out of the rock. From this murmuring the place was called “Massah” and “Meribah.”

beds; places of rest

REPH'IDIM (rests, refreshments), the last station of the Israelites before reaching Sinai, and where Moses smote the rock and the Amalekites were defeated. Ex 17:1, Ex 17:8-16. The location of this station and of the battle-field has been a difficult problem in biblical geography. The members of the British Ordnance party, after a thorough scientific survey of the whole region, concluded that the battle of Rephidim must have been fought in one of two places. In the Wady Feiran. - This place was approved as the site of Rephidim by all of the party except the Rev. F. W. Holland, and this has been the prevalent view ever since the fifth century. Feiran is rather a broad valley, and would furnish a practicable route for a large body like the Israelites, going from the wilderness of Sin into the mountain-region, where they received the Law. The Amalekites would regard themselves as threatened by such a company, and would attempt to defend their country. The Feiran would be a strong military position. In this deep valley they might defend themselves from invasion, secure from the danger of a flank attack. Palmer discovered an Arab tradition pointing to the rock from which Moses brought the water, Ex 17:1, 1 Kgs 15:8, at a place called Hesy el-Khattatin. Bedouins say of this rock, which is found a few miles before the fertile part of the valley commences, "Our lord Moses smote it, and water miraculously flowed from the stone." Nearly opposite Wady Aleyat, which comes into Feiran from the south, is a mountain, Jebel Tahunah, which the British party consider to be the hill on which Moses sat and surveyed the battle, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands. There are churches and chapels on this hill, which mark it as a very sacred spot in the eyes of the old inhabitants of Paran…

REPH'IDIM (rests, refreshments), the last station of the Israelites before reaching Sinai, and where Moses smote the rock and the Amalekites were defeated. Ex 17:1, Ex 17:8-16. The location of this station and of the battle-field has been a difficult problem in biblical geography. The members of the British Ordnance party, after a thorough scientific survey of the whole region, concluded

that the battle of Rephidim must have been fought in one of two places. In the Wady Feiran. - This place was approved as the site of Rephidim by all of the party except the Rev. F. W. Holland, and this has been the prevalent view ever since the fifth century. Feiran is rather a broad valley, and would furnish a practicable route for a large body like the Israelites, going from the wilderness of Sin into the mountain-region, where they received the Law. The Amalekites would regard themselves as threatened by such a company, and would attempt to defend their country. The Feiran would be a strong military position. In this deep valley they might defend themselves from invasion, secure from the danger of a flank attack. Palmer discovered an Arab tradition pointing to the rock from which Moses brought the water, Ex 17:1, 1 Kgs 15:8, at a place called Hesy el-Khattatin. Bedouins say of this rock, which is found a few miles before the fertile part of the valley commences, "Our lord Moses smote it, and water miraculously flowed from the stone." Nearly opposite Wady Aleyat, which comes into Feiran from the south, is a mountain, Jebel Tahunah, which the British party consider to be the hill on which Moses sat and surveyed the battle, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands. There are churches and chapels on this hill, which mark it as a very sacred spot in the eyes of the old inhabitants of…