The Valley of Rephaim was to the north of Hebron and west-southwest of Jerusalem. It was on the border between the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin (Joshua 15:1, Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:11, Joshua 18:16), a relatively flat area with fertile fields (see Isaiah 17:5).1 The move from the Philistines into this valley is a clever tactic. By coming here, they hoped to drive a wedge between the north and the south of Israel, cutting David off from parts of his kingdom.2
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.