In a spectroscopic investigation of jet-cooled Rh-2 by the resonant two-photon ionization method, an abrupt predissociation threshold is observed in a dense set of vibronic levels at 19 405+/-4 cm(-1) Based on the high density of states expected in the rhodium dimer, the sharp definition of the predissociation threshold that is observed, and the validation of a similar conclusion in the case of V-2, it is argued that predissociation occurs as soon as the energy of the separated ground state atoms is exceeded. On this basis the bond energy of Rh-2 is assigned as D-0(Rh-2)=19405+/-4 cm(-1)=2.4059+/-0.0005 eV. This value is compared to the results of other experiments and to theoretical calculations. The bond energy of disilver, D-0(Ag-2)=1.65+/-0.03 eV, provides a particularly useful standard of comparison, and suggests that 4d contributions to the bond energy of Rh-2 amount to at least 0.76 eV.