Rephidim

Rephidim was a place where the Israelites camped during their journey from Egypt to Sinai (Exo. 17:1, 8; 19:2; Num. 33:14, 15).

Rephidim was one of the places where the Israelites camped during their journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. It was located in the Wilderness of Sin, after the Israelites left the Wilderness of Sin and before they reached the Wilderness of Sinai (Exo. 17:1; 19:2; Num. 33:14, 15). At Rephidim, the people complained about the lack of water, and Moses, following God's instructions, miraculously provided water by striking a rock with his staff (Exo. 17:1-7). The Amalekites also attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, but Israel, led by Joshua and aided by Moses' intercession, defeated them (Exo. 17:8-16). The exact location of Rephidim is uncertain, but it was likely in the central part of the Sinai Peninsula.

Supports, one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady esh-Sheikh. Here no water could be found for the people to drink, and in their impatience they were ready to stone Moses, as if he were the cause of their distress. At the command of God Moses smote “the rock in Horeb,” and a copious stream flowed forth, enough for all the people. After this the Amalekites attacked the Israelites while they were here encamped, but they were utterly defeated (Ex. 17:1, 8-16). They were the “first of the nations” to make war against Israel (Num. 24:20).

Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites advanced into the wilderness of Sinai (Ex. 19:1, 2; Num. 33:14, 15), marching probably through the two passes of the Wady Solaf and the Wady esh-Sheikh, which converge at the entrance to the plain er-Rahah, the “desert of Sinai,” which is two miles long and about half a mile broad.