Rephaim text

The Rephaim text is an ancient Ugaritic poem consisting of three fragmentary tablets discovered in Ras Shamra and dating to the 14th century BCE. The text describes the Rephaim, a group of warrior-like figures, undertaking a three-day chariot journey to a threshing floor, where they partake in a seven-day feast. Scholars debate the identity of the Rephaim, with interpretations ranging from deified ancestors, minor deities, and underworld spirits to human cultic figures associated with fertility rites. The text is linked to the Tale of Aqhat, possibly as a prequel, and shares thematic elements with El’s Drinking Party. Though the precise meaning of the text remains uncertain, it emphasizes feasting, divine participation, and family lineage, suggesting the Rephaim were semi-divine or royal figures with connections to the gods.