Rephidim (Hastings' Dictionary)

A station between the wilderness of Sin and the wilderness of Sinai (cf. Ex 17' with 19^). The same order is given in the itinerary of Nu 33 ; but two additional stations are there given, Dophkah and Alush (vv."-"), between Sin and Kephidim. These are the only pa.ssages in which tlie name occurs, and from tliem it appears that Rephidim is outside the wilderness of Sinai, and that the people, when encamped there, have not yet reached the mount of God.

The events recorded in connexion with this place are: (1) the people strive (2"n) with Moses and ' tempt ' (i.e. prove, toj) the Lord because there is no water to drink (Ex 17'-'); (2) the defeat of Amalek (w.""") ; (3) the visit of Jethro when he counsels Moses about appointing judges (Ex 18). The first two are ex^iressly, the third may be by inference (cf. 19-), assigned to Repliidim.

Now, in the account of the first event, the smitten rock is described as being in Horeb (' I will stand l)efore thee upon the rock in Horeb,' Ex 17*). Also in 18° Jethro comes to Moses 'where he was encamped at the mount of God.' According to internal evidence in both these narratives, the people are already at Horeb the mount of God, and the ditticulty of harmonizing these statements with those introduced with reference to the situation of Rephidim is apparent.

The first of these events has been discussed in the art. Meribah, where the similarity between it and another event (Nu 20'-") assigned to a period after leaving Sinai is pointed out. In the account of the third event, the description of the persons appointed, on Jethro's advice, to assist Moses in judging the people, resembles that in Dt 1'-" (note especially the verbal coincidences of Ex 18" with Dt 1").

In Deuteronomy the appointment is said to have been made at the departure from Sinai — at which time the reference to ordinances and laws (Ex IS') would be appropriate, and it has been suggested that Ex 18 was at one time read in connexion with Nu lO'^'" (see Driver on Dt 1, at p. 15 of Intern. Crit. Comm., and Dillniann on Ex 18). These remarks illustrate what has been said in art. EXODUS AND JOURNEY TO CANAAN, vol. i. p. 804" and 8(I5*.

The foe wliicli Israel encounters in Rephidim is Amalek, a tribe which is generally described in Scripture as dwelling on the soutliern border of Palestine though occasionally found f.irther north (see Amalkk).

Supposing tliat the Israelites on leaving Egypt went eastwards, they would pass by the territory which is ordinarily assigned to Aninlck, whereas if they made tlie detour to tho south, involved in visiting the traditional Sinai, the Amalekites must have wandered much farther 228 REPKOBATE REPROOF, REPROVE to the south. A question here arises simUar to that suggested hy the mention of Midian, in con- nexion with Sinai, and considerably strengthens the argument in the note on the art. MiDlAN.

Comparing that note with what is here said, it follows that the acceptance of the traditional site of Sinai involves two hypotheses of migration (one for Anialek as well as one for Midian), while the site there suggested for Sinai assigns a uniform geo- graphical position for both. See also art. Paran. A. T. Chapman.