Rephaim: Lofty men; giants,
(Genesis 14:5; 2 Samuel 21:16,18) marg. A.V., Rapha, marg.
R.V., Raphah;
(Deuteronomy 3:13) R.V.; A.V., "giants"). The aborigines of
Palestine, afterwards conquered and dispossessed by the Canaanite
tribes, are classed under this general title. They were known to the
Moabites as Emim, i.e., "fearful",
(Deuteronomy 2:11) and to the Ammonites as
Zamzummim. Some of them found refuge among the Philistines, and were
still existing in the days of David. We know nothing of their origin.
They were not necessarily connected with the "giants" (R.V.,
"Nephilim") of
(Genesis 6:4)
