I forgot to give an alternative explanation to RE:PF)IM. The verb means
"sink down", "let drop", "be disheartened", so the noun can simply mean
"those who have sunk down", "those who are dropped in the grave" = the
dead. See R.L. Harris et. al, 1980, "Theological Wordbook of the Old
Testament" Vol II, entry 2198.
Regards
Rolf
Rolf Furuli
Lecturer in Semitic languages
University of Oslo