Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 5:18
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
18. The Philistines also came ] But the Philistines came. Taking a different route, perhaps by the Wady-es-Surr and Beth-shemesh (see note on 1Sa 6:9), so as to avoid David and his army, they came up and occupied “the valley of Rephaim,” an open plain or upland valley, stretching in a S.W. direction from the neighbourhood of Jerusalem towards Bethlehem. Cp. Jos 15:8; Jos 18:16 (E. V. the valley of the giants). It was famous for its fertile corn-fields (Isa 17:5). The name preserves a trace of the ancient gigantic race of the Rephaim, to which Og the king of Bashan belonged (Deu 3:11. Cp. Gen 14:5; Jos 17:15).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Or, of the giants; which lay westward from Jerusalem, and so was the ready way to Jerusalem, which it seems they designed to take.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. valley of Rephaimthat is,”of giants,” a broad and fertile plain, which descendsgradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It wasthe route by which they marched against Jerusalem. The “hold”to which David went down “was some fortified place where hemight oppose the progress of the invaders,” and where hesignally defeated them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. Or “of the giants”, as Jos 15:8; which lay to the west of Jerusalem; of which, [See comments on Jos 15:8]; the Philistines spreading themselves in it, shows that they were very numerous.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Rephaim.Translated in Jos. 15:8, the valley of the giants. It was a fruitful valley, stretching some three miles S. and S.W. from Jerusalem, and only separated from the valley of Hinnom by a narrow ridge. It gave ample room for a large encampment, and its situation is an additional proof that the capture of Jerusalem had already been made, since the Philistines came here to seek David. They had, however, encamped in the same place at earlier times also (see 2Sa. 23:13).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Valley of Rephaim An upland plain a little southwest of Jerusalem, hemmed in on all sides by low hills, so that it is properly called a valley.
See on Jos 15:18, where it is translated “valley of the giants.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Ver. 18. In the valley of Rephaim. ] Of the Titans or giants, as the Septuagint rendereth it; or, “Of the dead.” Psa 7:13 God had against these Philistine Theomachi; was “preparing for them the instruments of death,” and would ere long lay them in that slimy valley where were many already like them. and more should come after them. Job 21:31-32
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rephaim. The descendants of the Nephilim through one “Rapha”. See App-23and App-25. Compare 1Ch 11:15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the valley: 2Sa 23:13, Gen 14:5, Jos 15:8, 1Ch 11:15, Isa 17:5
Reciprocal: Jos 17:15 – giants 2Sa 21:16 – the giant 2Sa 22:38 – General 1Ch 14:9 – the valley