Who were the Rephaim in the Bible?

A:To the Hebrews, Rephaim (or Refaim, sing: ha-rafa) could be giants, but they could also be shades of the dead. In other Words, they were unknown but fearsome beings. The Ugaritic texts also associate the Rephaim with the dead and the Ugaritic god Rapha'u seems to dwell in Ashtarot and Edrei, just where biblical tradition places the Hebrew giant Rephaim. These associations are, in themselves, sufficient evidence that the Rephaim of The Bible never really existed.