Rasses | Free Online Biblical Library

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Rasses

RASSES, RASSIS răs’ ez (LXX Ρασσίς, meaning uncertain).

A place whose people were destroyed along with those of Ishmael by the army of Holofernes (Judg 2:23). 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 (Geography XIV. 5. 19; XVI. 2. 8) and Ptolemy (Geography V. 14) both mention a Rossos, which may be the modern Arsus in Cilicia, near the site of Issus where Alexander the Great defeated Darius III.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

(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).

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 (Eze 38:2,3; 39:1), 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.