Rephidim — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Camping place of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, following their exodus from Egypt. Exodus 17:1 lists Rephidim as Israel’s stopping place after the wilderness of Sin. Numbers 33:12-15, however, specifies that after the wilderness of Sin, they camped at Dophkah and Alush, then Rephidim, before they journeyed on to the Sinai wilderness.

Show passage in OET: EXO 17:1

OET-RV EXO 17:1

17 Then all the Israelis moved on from Sin in the wilderness, travelling following Yahweh’s instructions. They camped at Refidim but there was no water for the people to drink.

OET-LV EXO 17:1

17 And_ all _of the _congregation _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _set _out from_the _wilderness _of Şīn to_their _settings _of_out on the _mouth _of YHWH and_they _encamped at_Rəfīdīm and_there_was_not water to_ the_people _drink.

Show passage in OET: NUM 33:12–15

OET-RV NUM 33:12

12 Travelling from there, they camped at Dofkah,

OET-RV NUM 33:13

13 and then from there, at Alush.

OET-RV NUM 33:14

14 After leaving Alush, they camped at Refidim but they didn’t have water there to drink.

OET-RV NUM 33:15

15 When they left Refidim, they camped in the Sinay wilderness.

OET-LV NUM 33:12

12 And_they _set _out from_the _wilderness _of Şīn and_they _encamped at_Dophka.

OET-LV NUM 33:13

13 And_they _set _out from_Dophka and_they _encamped at_ʼĀlūsh.

OET-LV NUM 33:14

14 And_they _set _out from_ʼĀlūsh and_they _encamped at_Rəfīdīm and_not it _belonged there water to_people to_drink.

OET-LV NUM 33:15

15 And_they _set _out from_Rəfīdīm and_they _encamped in_the _wilderness _of Şīnay.

Jump to OET EXO 17:1 section.

Jump to OET NUM 33:12–15 section.

Several incidents occurred at Rephidim during the wilderness travels of Israel. Upon arriving at Rephidim, the Israelites learned that there was no water to drink. The thirsty, disgruntled people complained to Moses. In reply, Moses struck a rock in Horeb with his staff (according to the Lord’s instruction) and water flowed out to satisfy the nation. Moses, however, named Rephidim Massah (meaning testing) and Meribah (meaning quarreling) because of Israel’s doubt of the Lord’s presence and provision (Ex 17:1-7).

Show passage in OET: EXO 17:1–7

OET-RV EXO 17:1

17 Then all the Israelis moved on from Sin in the wilderness, travelling following Yahweh’s instructions. They camped at Refidim but there was no water for the people to drink.

OET-RV EXO 17:2

2 So the people argued with Mosheh (Moses) again, saying, “Give us water to drink!”
¶ “Why are you all quarrelling with me?” Mosheh answered. “Why are you all testing Yahweh?”

OET-RV EXO 17:3

3 But the people were very thirsty there and they murmured against Mosheh, so he demanded, “Is this why you brought us out of Mitsrayim (Egypt)? To kill me and my sons and my cattle with thirst?” ???

OET-RV EXO 17:4

4 Mosheh cried out to Yahweh, asking, “What should I do for these people? It won’t take much more and they’ll kill me.”

OET-RV EXO 17:5

5 “Walk on ahead of the people,” Yahweh told Mosheh, “and take some of the Israeli elders with you, and your staff—the one which you struck the river with. Take it in your hand and go.

OET-RV EXO 17:6

6 Watch me. I will stand in front of you there on the rock at Horev. Then you will strike the rock and water will come out of it, and the people will drink.” So Mosheh did that while the Israeli elders watched.

OET-RV EXO 17:7

7 Mosheh named that place both ‘Masah’ (which means ‘testing’) and ‘Merivah’ (which means ‘complaining’), because of the conflict among the Israelis and because of how they tested Yahweh by saying, ‘Is Yahweh among us or not?’

OET-LV EXO 17:1

OET-LV EXO 17:2

2 And_ the_people _it _quarrelled with Mosheh and_they _said give to/for_us water we_drink and_he/it _said to/for_them Mosheh why are_you _quarrelling with_me why are_you _putting _to _the _test DOM YHWH.

OET-LV EXO 17:3

3 And_it _was _thirsty there the_people for_water and_ the_people _it _grumbled on Mosheh and_he/it _said to/for_what this did_you(pl)_bring _us _up from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) to_put _to _death DOM_me and_DOM children _of_my and_DOM livestock _of_my by_thirst.

OET-LV EXO 17:4

4 And_ Mosheh _he _cried _out to YHWH to_say what will _I _do to_people the_this yet a _little and_they_will _stone _me.

OET-LV EXO 17:5

5 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh pass _on to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_people and_take with_you some_of _the _elders _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_staff _of_your which you _struck in/on/over_him/it DOM the_River take in_hand _of_your and_you _will _go.

OET-LV EXO 17:6

6 HERE_I will _be_standing to_your_face there on the_rock at_Ḩorēⱱ and_you _will _strike (on)_rock and_they _will _come _out from_him/it waters and_ the_people _it _will _drink and_he/it _made so Mosheh to_the _eyes _of the _elders _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

OET-LV EXO 17:7

7 And_he/it _called the _name _of the _place Maşşāh and_Mərīⱱāh on the _quarrel _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_because they_put _to _the _test DOM YHWH to_say (there) is_YHWH in_midst _of_our or not.

Jump to OET EXO 17:1–7 section.

Rephidim was the site near which the Israelites, led by Joshua, engaged the Amalekites in battle. The Lord promised to grant Israel victory as long as Moses kept his hands in the air. With the assistance of Hur and Aaron, Moses held up his hands for the duration of the day, and the Israelites prevailed over the Amalekites.

The location of Rephidim is uncertain. Some suggest Wadi Refayid in southwest Sinai. Others variously place it near modern Jebel Musa at Wadi Feiran or at Wadi es-Sheykh.