Rephidim

Rephidim is a place name in the Hebrew Bible referring to an encampment of the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt. It is described as a stop along the route from the wilderness of Sinai to the areas thereafter, where the people camped at Rephidim before continuing toward the land promised to their ancestors. The exact geographic setting is not definitively known, though it is generally understood to be in the Sinai Peninsula or the surrounding wilderness. The name is sometimes interpreted as meaning “resting places” or “slopes,” but the etymology is debated.

In the biblical narrative, Rephidim is notable for two events. First, there is the lack of water and the people’s complaint against Moses, leading to God’s instruction for Moses to strike the rock at Horeb to bring forth water. This miracle provided water for the community. Second, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, after which Moses’ long arms, aided by Aaron and Hur, led to Israel’s victory; Moses then built an altar and named it “The Lord is my banner” (Yahweh-Nissi). The site is also associated with the naming of Massah and Meribah, terms used to describe the people’s testing of the Lord at that location.

Scholars have offered various identifications for Rephidim, but there is no consensus on its precise modern location. The account remains a component of the Exodus narrative and is frequently cited in discussions of the Israelites’ experiences in the wilderness.