The Rephaim were the ancient giants of the land of Canaan.
There were anciently several families of them in this country. It is
commonly thought that they were descended from one called Rephah or
Rapha; but others imagine that the word Rephaim properly signifies
giants, in the ancient language of this people. There were some of the
Rephaim beyond Jordan, at Ashteroth Karnaim, in the time of Abraham,
when Chedorlaomer made war against them, Gen. xiv, 5. There were also
some of them in the country in the days of Moses. Og, king of Bashan,
was one of the posterity of the Rephaim, Joshua xii, 4. Also in the time
of Joshua there were some of their descendants in the land of Canaan,
Joshua xvii, 15. Lastly, we hear of them still in David’s time, in the
city of Gath, 1 Chron. xx, 4–6. The giants Goliah, Sippai, Lahmi, and
others, were some remains of the Rephaim; their magnitude and strength
are known from Scripture. See GIANTS.
There were anciently several families of them in this country. It is
commonly thought that they were descended from one called Rephah or
Rapha; but others imagine that the word Rephaim properly signifies
giants, in the ancient language of this people. There were some of the
Rephaim beyond Jordan, at Ashteroth Karnaim, in the time of Abraham,
when Chedorlaomer made war against them, Gen. xiv, 5. There were also
some of them in the country in the days of Moses. Og, king of Bashan,
was one of the posterity of the Rephaim, Joshua xii, 4. Also in the time
of Joshua there were some of their descendants in the land of Canaan,
Joshua xvii, 15. Lastly, we hear of them still in David’s time, in the
city of Gath, 1 Chron. xx, 4–6. The giants Goliah, Sippai, Lahmi, and
others, were some remains of the Rephaim; their magnitude and strength
are known from Scripture. See GIANTS.