Valley of rephaim in Biblical History

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What is the Valley of Rephaim?
THE VAL'LEY OF REPH'AIM
It is first mentioned in Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16, and there translated "the valley of the giants." It was one of the landmarks of the land of Judah; named after the Rephaim, or "giants," who at an early period were found on both sides of the Jordan. Comp. Gen 14:5; Deut 3:11-13; Josh 13:12; Lev 17:15. David twice defeated the Philistines in this valley. 2 Sam 5:17-25; 2 Sam 23:13; 1 Chr 11:15-16; 1 Chr 14:9-16. The valley was noted for its fertility. Isa 17:5. Its position as a boundary of Judah would indicate it to have been south of the valley of Hinnom. On the road to Bethlehem there is a cultivated plain about a mile long, bordered on both sides by hills, and gradually sloping into a deep valley at the south-west, called Wadi el-Werd, or "the valley of roses." This plain is called Beka'a by the Arabs, and since the sixteenth century an attempt has been made to identify it with the valley of Rephaim. Tobler proposed to identify Rephaim with the Wady der Yasin, to the west-north-west of Jerusalem, but this would contradict the account of Josephus, and the other location is quite generally accepted.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'valley of rephaim' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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