Rephidim

One of, and the last noted, stations in Israel's journey from Egypt before arriving at Mount Sinai. Nicknamed "Massah and Meribah" ('despair' and 'contention') by Moses, the placed lacked water which led the people to complain vehemently against Moses and the Lord (Exo 17:1). Yahweh led Moses and the elders to a rock which, when Moses was commanded to strike, issued the water they needed. Here too, Israel was attacked by a band of Amalekites, and Joshua, son of Nun, for the first time, showed his colour as a leader of the people in his command of the fight against the attackers. For their gross indecency in attacking a people down on their state, Yahweh commanded Moses to write up a note declaring their eventual extirpation (17:14). Significance too for Moses's leadership and for the future social structure of Israel was the visit by Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, whose counsel led to the selection of capable men to serve in delegated offices over the people (Chap 18).

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CONCORDANCE (NIV)

Rephidim appears only in this stage in Israel's life and is mentioned only 5x in two parallel accounts.

Exo 17:1 — The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, travelling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [So they quarrelled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"

Exo 17:8 — The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. [Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.]

Exo 19:2 — [In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt--on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.] After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Num 33:14 & 15 — They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai.