Raphu (Hastings' Dictionary)

The father of Palti, the spy selected from the tribe of Benjamin, Nu 13". RASSES (BA 'Pofforis, N 'Pao<r(rf(?, Lat. Cod. corb. and Vulg. Thnrsis [ = "Tarsus], OM Lat. Tyrru et 2in.n.i, Syr. Thirds (Gn 10'-) and Jinimifes (Ex 1")). — Among the peo])le3 which Holofcrnes subdued are mentioned 'the children of Rasses' (Jtli 2-^). Some think the Vulg. Tarsus is original, the Greek a corruption, the Old Lat. and Syr. a union of the two. Fritzsche suggested Uhosos, a moun- tain chain and city south of Amanos, on the Gulf of Issus. Ball adds the possibility of Rosh (Ezk 38'^-' 39'). Eastern Asia Minor seems to be the general region which the connexion suggests. P. C. Porter. RATHUMUS CPdeiz/ios), 'the story- writer' or 'recorder,' 1 l';8 o'"- "■ ^- •, is the same as ' Rehum the chancellor ' of Ezr 48- »• "• ^. The LXX of Ezra has merely transliterated the Aramaic title j 1 Es has either taken it as a proper name (itoi \',ei\Teeij.o-i, "), or tr'' it as a title (4 [7(>d<^u>'] rA 7r/)o(r7rl7rTo^Ta "), or combined both these render- ings (>). See Beeltetumus, Chancellor. RAVEN (■^-ly'orebh, /c6pa{, corvus, Arab, ghur&h). — Both the Ileb. and Arab, roots mean 'to be black.' The Arab, root also contains the idea of leaving home. From these two meanings the raven has come to bo a bird of specially evil omen to the Arabs, who attribute to his presence the worst of presages of death and disaster. They are esiiecially superstitious about the ijhttrdb el- bi'.n, wliich they say is marked with white on hit 202 EAVEN, RAVIN EEBEKAH black coat, or has a red beak and legs. What bird is meant by these descriptions is not quite dear. It is probably fabulous. The raven is the first bird mentioned by name in the Bible (Gn 8'). The lleli. inijilies tliat the raven went out and stayed, probably feeding on carca.sses. The LXX ami V ulg. ^eeiu to imply that it went out and stayed until the waters were dried up, and then returned. But there would have been no reason for its returning then. The raven was unclean (Lv 11", Dt 14'''). It is in part a carrion bird, and therefore uneatable. Kavens were commanded to feed Elijah, and did so (I K 17^"). See article Elijah in vol. i. p. 6SS\ tiod is twice said to provide for young ravens (Job 3S-", Ps 147^). There is nothin" especially significant in this. It is implied in tlie previous and succeeding verses that God provides for other wild animals. The stories that ravens neglect their young are fabulous. The allusion to the eanion-eating propensities of ravens (Pr 30") is true to nature. Ihey are always found among the birds and animals which assemble around a carcass in Palestine. They, however, capture and eat lizards, bares, mice, etc. Their black colour is compared with that of the hair of the Shulam- mite's lover (Ca 5")- They are among the ill- omened creatures which symbolize the desolation of Edom (Is 34"). Ravens are not wholly flesh- eaters. On the contrary, they are very fond of chick peas and other grains, by devouring which tliey do vast damage to the farmers. The term 'orebh, as well as Kipaf, is not confined to the raven. It doubtless includes all birds after its kind (Lv 11"). Of these, besides C'orvtcs corax, L., the raven, there are in Palestine C. affinis, Riipp., the Fantail Raven ; C. comix, L., the Hooded Crow (Arab, zdgh) ; C. agricola, Trist., the Syrian Rook; C. vionedula, L., the Jackdaw (Arab. l;dk) ; Garrulus atricapillus, St. H., the Syrian Jay or Garrulous Roller (Arab. 'alcQk) • and Pi/rrliocorax alpinus, Koch, the Alpine Chough, ftlost of these eat vegetable food as well as animal, including grubs, worms, etc. To all would apjdy the words of Ciirist (Lk 12-'') in regard to God's provision for them, although they neither sow nor gather into storehouses. G. £. POST.