RAPHAIM

RAPHAIM. — A more generic descriptive term for the race that, in the Stone Age, populated Transjordan and parts of Palestine (v. GIGANTI). The Moabites called them Emim (Deut. 2:10–11); in the land of Ammon they were called Zomzommim or Zuzim (ibid. 2:20–21; already defeated by Chedorlaomer at Ham, Gen. 14:5); and the Enacim (: Josh. 11:22–23, etc.). The same term (Heb. *réphá'im*) is used for the inhabitants of Sheol (Is. 14:9; 26:14, 19; Ps. 88:11; Prov. 2:18; Job 26:5). Their name evokes the idea of weakness, of lack of substance, contained in the root *répháh* (Septuagint: ἰσχνός), Vulg. *medici*, from the root *rápha'* (Ps. 87:11; Is. 26:14).

There is general agreement on the single root *rápháh*; yet no plausible explanation of its semantic development has, it seems, been found. According to M.-J. Lagrange (followed by A. Clamer, F.-M. Abel, etc.), the term was first applied to an important class of the dead: heroes, warriors, of imposing aspect (Is. 14:9; cf. Ezek. 32:21–24), and was then extended to the aforementioned pre-historic race; only later was it applied to all the dead. P. Dhorme’s suggestion (v. BIBLICA) seems more probable: *R.* was the designation corresponding to the subterranean life of the dead; yet these same dead were, according to ancient Babylonian conceptions, considered terrible and vengeful, capable of afflicting the living with disease and obsession. For this reason, those men (cf. Gen. 6:4) to whom the Bible attributes, more than physical bulk and prowess, a persistent rebellion against God and wickedness, were called *R.* (cf. Bar. 3:26–27).