REMPHAN (rern'phan) or REPHAN (Gr. 'PEzActulv, hrem-fan'), a name quoted in Acts from Amos v:26.
But, according to the received pointing, it would better read, 'Ye bore the tabernacle of your king (idol), and the statue (or statues) of your idols, the star of your god, which ye make to yourselves.' According to this reading, the name of the idol so worshiped by the Israelites is, in fact, not given, although the mention of a star still suggests that some planet is intended. The reference is probably to Saturn, who was wor shiped by the Semitic nations as an evil demon to be appeased by sacrifices.
REND (rend), (Heb. kaw-rah).
1. To tear asunder, pull in pieces (Ps. vii:2).
2. To reproach (Ps. xxxv:15).
Figurative. (1) "Rending of garments," im ported one's being overwhelmed with grief, or shocked with something terrible (Gen. xxxvii : 29, 34; 2 Citron. xxxiv:27)• (2) As the priests were not allowed to rend their garments, Caiaphas, rending his garments, was a token the priesthood was departing (Matt. xxvi : 65).
(3) "Rending of the heart," denotes great and bitter sorrow for sin ( Joel ii :t3).
(4) God "rends the heavens," and "comes down," when, in a majestic manner, he powerfully delivers his people (Is. lxiv:t).
(5) God "lore" the Jews when he divided and terribly afflicted them (Hos. v :Lt)• (6) The anger of the Edomites did "tear per petually ;" they, on every opportunity, harassed and murdered the Jews (Amos i :it).
(7) The Assyrian kings did "tear enough for their whelps;" enriched their country with the wealth they procured by spoiling and murdering the nations around (Nah. :12).
(8) To "rend the face with paint," is an ex pression employed in Jer. iv :30. It may seem strange to western ears to use this language, as paint, if applied to the cheeks, rather serves to close up scars and wounds, than to open them. But the language in the original would at once suggest to the' Oriental the practice of distending or tearing open the eyes with stibium or kohl. The eye being closed, a small ebony rod, smeared with the composition, is squeezed between the lids; the edges are consequently left black, and the clear white of the eye seen. It has the effect of apparently rending the eyelids asunder, so as to make the eye appear large.