📖 Biblical Definition
Wilderness encampment of Israel between the wilderness of Sin and Mount Sinai (Exodus 17:1-16; 19:2; Numbers 33:14-15). Two foundational episodes occurred at Rephidim. First, the people thirsted and contended with Moses, accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them and their cattle with thirst; Moses cried to the LORD, who commanded him to strike the rock at Horeb with his rod; water came out of the rock for the people; Moses named the place Massah (temptation) and Meribah (chiding) because of the people's tempting of the LORD (Exodus 17:1-7). Second, Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim; Joshua led the Israelite battle while Moses stood on the hilltop with the rod of God in his hand; while Moses held up his hand Israel prevailed, when he let it down Amalek prevailed; Aaron and Hur held up Moses's hands until sundown, and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of the sword; the LORD declared I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven and Moses built an altar called Jehovah-nissi (the LORD is my banner, Exodus 17:8-16). Rephidim is theologically rich: the rock-struck-for-water typologically prefigures Christ as the rock from which living water flows (1 Corinthians 10:4); the Amalek battle establishes the pattern of victory through intercession; the perpetual-war-with-Amalek declaration anchors the theological theme of God's relentless judgment on covenant-rejecting enemies of His people.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Wilderness encampment between Sin and Sinai (Exodus 17); Moses struck the rock for water (Massah/Meribah); Israel defeated Amalek through Moses's upheld hands (Jehovah-nissi).
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REPHIDIM, proper n. (OT place; Exodus 17:1-16; 19:2; Numbers 33:14-15) Wilderness encampment of Israel between the wilderness of Sin and Mount Sinai. Two foundational episodes: (1) Moses struck the rock at Horeb with his rod; water for the people; Moses named the place Massah (temptation) and Meribah (chiding) for the people's tempting of the LORD (Exodus 17:1-7). (2) Amalek fought Israel; Joshua led the battle; Moses on the hilltop with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands until sundown; Joshua defeated Amalek; the LORD declared perpetual war with Amalek; Moses built an altar Jehovah-nissi (the LORD is my banner, Exodus 17:8-16). Rock typologically prefigures Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4); Amalek pattern establishes intercessory-victory typology.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 17:6 — "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."
Exodus 17:11-13 — "And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."
Exodus 17:14-16 — "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
1 Corinthians 10:4 — "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. Rephidim is a typological place; the principal application is the typology of Christ as the rock and victory through intercession.
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Rephidim as a place name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal theological recoveries are two. First, the rock-struck typology: the rock smitten at Horeb (struck once, in Exodus 17:6) is the OT shadow of Christ smitten once for our sins, from whom the living water of the Spirit flows (1 Corinthians 10:4; John 7:37-39). The later episode at Meribah (Numbers 20, Moses striking the rock twice in disobedience) underlines the typology by violation. Second, the intercessory-victory pattern: Joshua's army did not prevail by their own strength alone; victory followed Moses's intercession on the hilltop, sustained by Aaron and Hur. The Christian's victory in spiritual warfare follows the same pattern: the LORD's people prevail in the battle while interceded for by their great High Priest above.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Exodus 17:1-16; Sin to Sinai; rock at Horeb; Amalek defeated; Jehovah-nissi altar.
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['Hebrew', 'H7508', 'Refidim', 'rests, resting places']
['Hebrew', 'H4532', 'Massah', 'temptation, testing']
['Hebrew', 'H4809', 'Meribah', 'chiding, contention']
Usage
"Rephidim: wilderness encampment between Sin and Sinai."
"Moses struck the rock for water (Massah/Meribah)."
"Joshua defeated Amalek by intercession; Moses built Jehovah-nissi."