Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Lofty men; giants, (Gen. 14:5; 2 Sam. 21:16, 18, marg. A.V., Rapha, marg. R.V., Raphah; Deut. 3:13, R.V.; A.V., “giants”). The aborigines of Palestine, afterwards conquered and dispossessed by the Canaanite tribes, are classed under this general title. They were known to the Moabites as Emim, i.e., “fearful”, (Deut. 2:11), and to the Ammonites as Zamzummim. Some of them found refuge among the Philistines, and were still existing in the
days of David. We know nothing of their origin. They were not necessarily connected with the “giants” (R.V., “Nephilim”) of Gen. 6:4. (See GIANTS.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
[Giants]
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
REPH'AIM (giants), the name of a race of giants who lived east of the Jordan. Chedorlaomer defeated them. Gen 14:5. Their land was promised to Abraham's seed. Gen 15:20. At some time before Israel's coming they were driven out of their possessions. Deut 2:10 (Heb.), and lived in the West of Palestine, where they had possessions. Josh 15:8. See below.
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
REPH'AIM, VAL'LEY OF. It is first mentioned in Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16, and there translated "the valley of the giants." It was one of the landmarks of the land of Judah; named after the Rephaim, or "giants," who at an early period were found on both sides of the Jordan. Comp. Gen 14:5; Deut 3:11-13; Josh 13:12; Lev 17:15. David twice defeated the Philistines in this valley. 2 Sam 5:17-25; 2 Sam 23:13; 1 Chr 11:15-16; 1 Chr 14:9-16. The valley was
noted for its fertility. Isa 17:5. Its position as a boundary of Judah would indicate it to have been south of the valley of Hinnom. On the road to Bethlehem there is a cultivated plain about a mile long, bordered on both sides by hills, and gradually sloping into a deep valley at the south-west, called Wadi el-Werd, or "the valley of roses." This plain is called Beka'a by the Arabs, and since the sixteenth century an attempt has been made to
identify it with the valley of Rephaim. Tobler proposed to identify Rephaim with the Wady der Yasin, to the west-north-west of Jerusalem, but this would contradict the account of Josephus, and the other location is quite generally accepted.