<strong>RASSES, RASSIS</strong> <strong>răs’ ez</strong> (LXX <span class="greek">Ρασσίς</span>, meaning uncertain).<br /><br />

A place whose people were destroyed along with those of Ishmael by the army of Holofernes (<bibleref ref="Judg.2.23">Judg 2:23</bibleref>). Its location is unknown, but the context in Judith would indicate the region of Cilicia. The Vul. reads Tharsis, which is Tarsus in Cilicia. Strabo (<em>Geography</em> XIV. 5. 19; XVI. 2. 8) and Ptolemy (<em>Geography</em> V. 14) both mention a Rossos, which may be the modern Arsus in Cilicia, near the site of Issus where <span class="auto-link">[[Alexander the Great]]</span> defeated Darius III.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

(Rhaasseis, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus, Rhasseis; Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Tharsis; Old Latin Thiras et Rasis): The children of Rasses are mentioned with Put, Lud and the children of Ishmael as having been subdued by Holofernes (Judith 2:23).<br /><br />

Their identity is a matter of conjecture only. Some think Vulgate (Jerome’s Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Tharsis (= Tarsus) is meant, others Rosh (<bibleref ref="Ezek.38.2">Eze 38:2</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Ezek.38.3">3</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Ezek.39.1">39:1</bibleref>), others Rhosos, a mountain range and city South from Anunus, on the Gulf of Issus. Most probably a district, not a town, is named, situated in the eastern part of Asia Minor.