Rephaite

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The Rephaites (or Zamzummites, Anakites, and Emites) were a tall people group mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that lived between the Nile River and the Euphrates River during the time of Abraham (Genesis 15:17).

The Emites and Anakites were sometimes considered part of this group ^[1] but sometimes separate. The Bible records that God used the Ammonites to destroy the Rephaites in Deuteronomy 2:19-21. The giant size of the Rephaites is illustrated by the bed of Og, king of Bashan that was "made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide" (Deuteronomy 3:10-12). During the time of David, several Philistine warriors including Goliath, are considered Rephaites ^[2].

The Rephaites are represented in Hebrew by the root rp', a root which is also found within Ugaritic texts. The Ugaritic text KTU 1.108 uses the term 'king' in association with the root rp' and place names that probably correspond to Ashtaroth and Edrei in the Bible, places with which Og is associated ^[3]. This may provide confirmation of traditions about the royal dynasty of Og and his lineage.

The Ugaritic texts of the Legend of Danel concern the hero Danel the Rephaite,^[4] who was known as "judging the cause of the widow, adjudicating the case of the fatherless" (Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 149-51.) His soul was revived by El.