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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Rephaim, Valley of
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(emeq). -18; ; ; ; ; . In ; , it is translated "the valley of the giants." The scene of David's twice routing the Philistines utterly and destroying their idols; so that it was named Perazim, God breaking forth there upon David's foes (for they came to seek him to avenge their old quarrel, on hearing of his accession); a type of God's future utter overthrow of the church's last foes (-22).(See PERAZIM.) The Philistines came in harvest time to the valley, to carry off the ripe crops, in ; .
Joshua () says Judah's boundary "went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley, of Rephaim ("giants") northward." The most northern point of the valley of Rephaim was at the summit that terminated the valley of Hinnom on the W. Its proximity to Bethlehem is implied in -17. Bethlehem was S. of Jerusalem. Moreover, the Philistines' natural line of march to Jerusalem would be from the S.W. Hence it is likely the valley of Rephaim is the wide elevated plain which, beginning at the top of the valley of Hinnom, stretches S. along the road to Bethlehem, but gradually bends W. until it contracts into the narrow, deep valley, wady el Werd.