The Hebrew word רְפָאִים (Rephaim) has an interesting etymology and a variety of interpretations. Here’s a detailed look at its origin and the different opinions on its meaning, particularly in the context of Deuteronomy 2.
Etymology of רפאים (Rephaim)
The term רְפָאִים (Rephaim) is used in several places in the Hebrew Bible and can refer to both an ancient group of people and to shades or spirits of the dead.
1. Root Meaning:
The root of the word רפאים is generally believed to be רָפָא (raphah), which means “to heal” or “to mend.” However, this connection is more abstract when considering the meaning of Rephaim.
2. Ancient People:
In certain biblical contexts, רפאים refers to an ancient race of giants who inhabited the land before the Israelites. For example, in Deuteronomy 2:10-11, it mentions that the Emim were considered a race of giants like the Anakim and were also counted as Rephaim.
3. Spirits of the Dead:
In other contexts, particularly in poetic and prophetic literature, רפאים is used to refer to shades or spirits of the dead dwelling in Sheol, the underworld (Isaiah 14:9, Psalm 88:11).
Different Opinions about רפאים in Deuteronomy 2
In Deuteronomy 2, the term רפאים appears in the context of the land previously inhabited by various ancient peoples. Here are some interpretations of the term in this context:
Some scholars interpret רפאים as referring to an actual historical group of people, possibly a race of giants who lived in the Transjordan region. They were considered formidable and ancient inhabitants, with various nations, such as the Moabites and Ammonites, replacing them.
Another view is that the Rephaim were mythological or semi-mythological figures. This interpretation sees them as part of the ancient Near Eastern cultural memory of primordial giants who once roamed the earth, blending historical and legendary elements.
Some interpretations suggest that the mention of Rephaim serves a symbolic purpose, emphasizing the might and ancient origins of the peoples the Israelites would encounter or replace. This could underscore the theme of God’s provision and promise to Israel by giving them victory over even these ancient and powerful groups.
Deuteronomy 2:10-11 Example
Here is the specific passage from Deuteronomy 2:10-11:
(10) The Emim dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:
(11) which also were accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
In this passage, the term רפאים is used to describe a mighty and ancient people, likened to the Anakim, another race of giants. This usage fits within the broader biblical portrayal of the Rephaim as both ancient and powerful.
Rephaim in the Ugaritic texts
The Rephaim are mentioned in ancient Near Eastern sources, particularly in Ugaritic texts. These texts refer to a group of deified ancestral spirits or semi-divine beings known as the “rpum” or “rpʾum.”
1. KTU 1.20 (The Rephaim Texts):
This text from Ugarit mentions the “rpum” as spirits of the dead who were believed to reside in the underworld. Here is an excerpt:
ilnymm ṯbd ilnymm ṯbdb
ʼars umms ʼars umms
rhbn ʼil d w yrdn
rpʼm
Translation:
“The gods sit, the gods sit,
the earth,
the spirits of the earth.
The mighty god descends
to the Rephaim.”
2. KTU 1.108:
This text includes a ritual meal for the Rephaim, reflecting their status as honored dead:
ilnymm ṯbd ilnymm ṯbd
rpʼm ilm d rmnm
Translation:
“The gods sit, the gods sit,
the Rephaim, the divine ones.”
These texts demonstrate that the concept of the Rephaim as powerful, ancestral spirits or semi-divine beings was present in the broader ancient Near Eastern cultural and religious context, particularly in Ugarit. The term “rpum” in Ugaritic parallels the biblical “Rephaim” in its reference to mighty, ancient beings.
Conclusion
The term רפאים (Rephaim) has a varied interpretations, ranging from an ancient race of giants to spirits of the dead. In Deuteronomy 2, the word contributes to the narrative of Israel’s history and God’s promises by highlighting the ancient and formidable nature of the peoples who once inhabited the Promised Land.
Suggested Reading
Botterweck, G. Johannes, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry, eds.Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Translated by David E. Green. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974-2006.
Cross, Frank Moore, and Richard J. Saley., “The Rephaim.” Ugaritic Textbook. Harvard University Press, 1963.
Day, John. “The Rephaim, the Sons of God, and the Nephilim: Thoughts on the Old Testament Giants.” Biblical Archaeology Review 6, no. 1 (1980): 28-38.
Day, John, God’s Conflict with the Dragon and the Sea: Echoes of a Canaanite Myth in the Old Testament. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985.
Gordon, Cyrus H., Ugaritic Textbook: Grammar, Texts in Transliteration, Cuneiform Selections, Glossary, Indices. Pontificium Institutum Biblicum, 1965.
Koehler, Ludwig, and Walter Baumgartner.The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated and edited under the supervision of M.E.J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill, 1994-2000.
Lewis, Theodore J., “The Ancestral Estate (bīt abini) in Mari and the Rephaim.” *Journal of the American Oriental Society* 111, no. 1 (1991): 41-53.
Mastin, B. A., The Rephaim: An Investigation into the History and Religious Practices of the Rephaim. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973.
Smith, Mark S., The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Tigay, Jeffrey H., Deuteronomy. The JPS Torah Commentary. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1996.
