Rephidim Raphidin
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(supports; bearers) (Ex. 17:1 and elsewhere)—one of Israel’s encampments near the western arm of the Red Sea and not far from Mount Sinai. It was memorable as the place where water was miraculously brought from the rock of Horeb after Israel murmured for lack of water, and where Joshua defeated the Amalekites (Ex. 17:1–16). Jethro the priest and his family also came there to visit Moses (Ex. 18:1–12). The source places it probably in Wadi Feiran, though others proposed Wadi esh-Sheikh, and says that the locality was then called Meribah, “murmuring, contention, indignation,” because Israel contended there over the lack of water.