REPHIDIM rĕf’ ə dĭm (רְפִידִ֑ם; LXX ̔Ραφιδίν, meaning refreshments). A stop in the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites.

Numbers 33:13-15 locates Rephidim on the journey from Alush to the wilderness of Sinai. Since the location of Mt. Sinai is uncertain, the location of Rephidim is also uncertain. There are three popular views: the traditional Mt. Sinai or Jebel Musa, Kadeshbarnea, or some place in Midian E of the Gulf of Aqaba. On the basis of the traditional Mt. Sinai near the S end of the peninsula formed by the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, Rephidim might be the Wadi Feiran or the Wadi Rufaid.

Exodus 17 and 18 record the happenings at Rephidim. There Moses had a rebellion on his hands because there was no water to drink. The people complained: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” (17:3). God instructed Moses to strike the rock. He did, and water came forth (17:6). Because of the attitude of the people, Moses named the place Massah and Meribah, meaning “proof” and “strife” (17:7). Moses repeatedly referred to this incident to remind the people of God’s faithfulness and their faithlessness (Num 20:13, 24; 27:14; Deut 6:16; 9:22; 32:51; 33:8). The author of Psalm 81 also recalled this ancient site and its significance (v. 7).

At Rephidim, Amalek fought with Israel (Exod 17:8ff.). Here it was that Israel was victorious as long as Moses’ hands were held up. After Joshua mowed down the enemy, Moses, obedient to God’s command, built an altar and called it, “the Lord is my banner” (KJV Jehovah-nissi).

There is reason to believe that the visit of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, recorded in Exodus 18, also took place at Rephidim. Exodus 19:2 records the nation’s leaving Rephidim. It is never again mentioned in the Bible.

Bibliography E. Kraeling, Bible Atlas (1956), 107-109.