REPHIDIM (MITZI ; also trrp, supports ;' 'Pacbtaelv ; 'Pacbtaiv; Raphidine), one of the prin cipal stations of the Israelites in the wilderness. Though its not described in Scripture, yet if the identity of Sinai with the modern Jebel Mitsa is established, no great difficulty can be felt in ascertaining approximately the site of Rephidim [SINAI ; WANDERING]. The order of march to the encampment at Sinai was as follows :—On the 15th of the second month they encamped in the desert of Sin (Exod. xvi. I). From Sin, according to the narrative in Exodus (xvii. r), they marched o Rephidim. But on turning to the more detailed list of the stations given in Num. xxxiii. 12-15, we find that between Sin and Rephidim there were two stations, Dophkah and Alush, and conse quently three marches. It appears, however, from both narratives, that from Rephidim to Sinai there was only one march (cf. Exod. xix, 2 ; Num. xxxiii. IS). An incidental remark in Exod. xvii. shows that Rephidim could not have been far distant from Mount Horeb. While encamped at Rephidim, there was no water for the people to drink,' and they murmured against Moses. He was therefore commanded to `go on before the people,' and with his rod to smite the rock in Horeb.' He did so. Water sprang from the smitten rock ; and consequence of this incident Rephidim was called Massah (` temptation ') and .11leribah (` chid ing '). As the Israelites, though encamped in Rephidim, were able to draw their needful supply of water from the rock in Horeb,' the two places must have been adjacent. Assuming Jebel Masa to be Sinai (or Horeb), and that the Israelites ap proached it by Wady esh-Sheikh, which is the only practicable route for such a multitude coming from Egypt, it follows that Rephidim was in Wady esh-Sheikh, and not more than one march—and apparently a very short one—distant from the mountain. Perhaps the solitary sanctuary of Sheikh Saleh, one of the most sacred spots in the whole peninsula, and which gives its name to the great valley, may mark the position of Rephidim. The valley is here of considerable width, and it opens out still more towards Sinai, affording space for the conflict of armies (Handbook for S. and P., p. 37 ; Robinson, B. R., i. 146 ; Stanley, S. and P., P. The position of Rephidim has created much dis cussion among travellers and sacred geographers.
Josephus appears to locate it very near to Sinai, and states that the place was entirely destitute of water, while in their preceding marches the people had met with fountains (Antiq.iii. I. 7 ; and 5. 1). Eusebius and Jerome say it was near Mount Horeb (Onomast., s.v. Raphidim). Cosmas places it at the distance of six miles, which agrees pretty nearly with Sheikh Saleh (Topographia Christiana, v. 207, seq.) Robinson removes it some miles farther down Wady esh-Shcikh to a narrow gorge, which forms a kind of door to the central group of moun tains. He gets over the difficulty in regard to the proximity of Horeb by affirming that that name was given, not to a single mountain, but to the whole group (B. R., i. 120). Mr. Sandie places Rephidim at the extreme end of Wady er-Rahah, and identifies it with a IVady Radhwan. He supposes that the Israelites marched from the coast plain of el-Kaa by Wady Daghadah (Horeb and 7erusalem, p. 159). This route, however, would scarcely be practicable for such a multitude. Lep sins (ed. Bohn, pp. 3 ro, seq.), Stewart (Tent and Khan), Ritter (Pal. and Syr., i. pp. 738, seq.), Stanley (S. and P., 4o, seq.), and others, locate Rephidim in Wady Feiran, near the base of Mount Serbal. The great distance from Sinai—twelve hours' march ; and the abundance of water at Feiran, appear to be fatal to this theory. No spot in the whole peninsula has such a supply of water ; and Feiran is on this account called the paradise of the Bedawfn.' Rephidim was one of the most noted stations in the wilderness journey. There the Israelites were supplied with water by a miracle. There, too, they were enabled to triumph over the Amalekites by a miracle. Moses, Aaron, and Hur sat upon a hill-top hard by, overlooking the battlefield. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed. . . . And Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands . . . until the going down of the sun' (Exod. xvii. 8-12). There, too, Jethro came to Moses, and by his wise counsel helped him to marshal the whole host of Israel (xviii.) The time spent at Rephidim is not stated ; but it could not have been more than a week, seeing they encamped in the desert of Sin on the 15th of the second month, thence it was three days' march to Rephidim and one to Sinai, which they reached on the 1st of the third month (xvi. 1 ; xix. I).— J. L. P.