Rapha Or Raphah
Rapha Or Raphah [1]
(Heb. Rapha', רָפָא , as in 1 Chronicles 8:2), or Ra'phah (Heb. Raphah', רָפָה , as in 2 Samuel 21:16, meaning Giant [q.v.]. as translated in 1 Chronicles 20:4; 1 Chronicles 20:6; 1 Chronicles 20:8; 2 Samuel 21:16; 2 Samuel 21:18; 2 Samuel 21:20; 2 Samuel 21:22; Sept. ῾Ραφής , v. r. ῾Ραφά and ῾Ραφαία ) , the name of two men. (See Beth-Rapha).
1. The last of the five sons of Benjamin. son of Jacob ( 1 Chronicles 8:2, "Rapha"). B.C. post 1927. The name does not occur in the original register of the family ( Genesis 46:21); but at Numbers 13:9, Raphu was the name of the father of the person chosen from Benjamin to spy out the land of Canaan — showing the name, or something similar, to have belonged to the tribe. Raphah is apparently but a variation of the name of Rosh (q.v.). (See Jacob).
2. The son of Binea, and father of Eleasah; eighths in lineal descent from David's friend Jonathan ( 1 Chronicles 8:37, "Raphah"). B.C. post 1000. He is called Rephaiah in 1 Chronicles 9:43.