Rephidim

Rephidim - supports, one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the\nWady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady esh-Sheikh. Here no\nwater could be found for the people to drink, and in their\nimpatience they were ready to stone Moses, as if he were the\ncause of their distress. At the command of God Moses smote "the\nrock in Horeb," and a copious stream flowed forth, enough for\nall the people. After this the Amalekites attacked the\nIsraelites while they were here encamped, but they were utterly\ndefeated (Ex. 17:1, 8-16). They were the "first of the nations"\nto make war against Israel (Num. 24:20). Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites advanced into the wilderness\nof Sinai (Ex. 19:1, 2; Num. 33:14, 15), marching probably\nthrough the two passes of the Wady Solaf and the Wady\nesh-Sheikh, which converge at the entrance to the plain\ner-Rahah, the "desert of Sinai," which is two miles long and\nabout half a mile broad. (See Sinai ; Meribah.) Category:Torah places