The Emites (/ˈɛmaɪts/ or /ˈiːmaɪts/) or Emim (Hebrew: אֵמִים ʾĒmīm) was the Moabite name for Repha'im. They are described in the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 2 as having been a powerful and populous people. They were defeated by the Moabites, who occupied their land. The Emim are also mentioned in Genesis 14:5 and according to Rashi, the name is translated as "the dreaded ones" (Hertz 1936) and the singular Ema/Emma (Hebrew: אימה) means "horror" or "terror".
The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim.
References
[edit]- J.H. Hertz (1936) The Pentateuch and Haftoras. Deuteronomy. Oxford, Oxford University Press.