DEBT

ance. She was the real deliverer of the Israelites, who had sunk into a state of feebleness and impotence, through the oppression of Jabin, king of Hazor (see Bakak). a personality of great power and outstanding character, she was looked up to as a ' mother in Israel ' (5'), and was instant both in word and in deed in fulfilUng her calling of ' Judge.' Her r61e is the more remarkable in that the general position of women in those days was of a distinctly subordinate character.

Deborah's Song (Jg 5^-=') is one of the most ancient and magnificent remains of early Hebrew literature. It is a song of victory, sung in memory of Israel's triumph (under the leadership of Deborah and Barak) over Sisera and the kings of Canaan. The vivid pictures which the poem brings up before the mind's eye make it certain that the writer (whether Deborah or another) lived at the time of the events described. The parallel, and somewhat later, account (in prose) of the same battle (Jg 44-«) agrees in the main with the poem, though there are many differences in the details. The Song is divided into four distinct sections:

Praise to Jahweh, and the terror of His approach, w.^-^.

Condition of Israel prior to Deborah's activity, w.^-'^

Gathering of the tnbes of Israel, w.^^-is.

Victory of Israel and death of Sisera, w.^^-^*.

The chief importance of the Song lies in the historical data it contains, and in the light it throws on some of early Israel's conceptions of Jahweh. Of the former, the main points are that at this time the Israelites had securely settled themselves in the mountainous districts, but had not as yet obtained any hold on the fertile lands of the Plain; that unity had not yet been established among the tribes of Israel; and that the 'twelve tribes' of later times had not yet all come into existence.

Of the latter, the main points are: that Jahweh has His dwelling-place on the mountains in the South; that, therefore. He has not yet come to dwell among His people, though He is regarded as specifically the God of Israel; that He comes forth from His dwelling-place to lead His people to battle; and that His might and strength are so great that the very elements are shaken at His approach.

The Hebrew text is in some places_(notably in w.^- ^^■*^) very corrupt; but the general sense is clear.

3. The mother of Tobit's father; she seems to have taught her grandchild the duty of almsgiving (To 1'). W. O. E. Oesteelet.

DEBT. — 1. In OT. — Loans in the OT period were not of a commercial nature. They were not granted to enable a man to start or extend his business, but to meet the pressure of poverty. To the borrower they were a misfortune (Dt 28i2- ") ; to the lender a form of charity. Hence the tone of legislation on the subject.

Usury is forbidden in all three codes (Ex 2225 [JE], Dt 23", Lv 25» [H]); it was making a profit out of a brother's distress. In Dt. it may be taken from a foreigner. Pledges were allowed, but under strict limitations (Dt 24", Job 24'). In Dt 15 is a remarkable law providing for the 'letting drop' of loans every seventh year (see Driver, ad loc.). Its relation to the law of the Sabbatical year in Ex 23i» (JE), Lv 25' (H) is not clear, but the cessation of agriculture would obviously lead to serious financial difficulties, and debtors might reasonably look for some relief. This consideration makes for the modem view, that the passage impUes only the suspension for a year of the creditor's right to demand payment. It must be admitted, however, that apart from a priori considerations the obvious inter-pretation is a total remission of debts (so the older, and Jewish commentators). Foreigners do not come under the law. The other codes have no parallel, except where the debt may have led to the bondage of the debtor's person.

Historically the legislation seems to have been largely ignored. In 2 K 4'-' a small debt involves the bondage of a widow's two sons (cf. Is 60', Mt IS^s), and EUsha

DECISION, VALLEY OF

helps her not by invoking the law, but by a miracle. In Neh 5 mortgaged lands and interest are restored under the pressure of an economic crisis. Nehemiah himself has been a creditor and taken usury. There is an apparent reference to Dt 15 in Neh 10". In later times the strictness of the law was evaded by various legal fictions: Hillel introduced a system of 'contracting out.' That loans played a large part in social life is shown by frequent references in the Prophets, Psalms, and Proverbs (Is 242, pg 15s 3721, pr 1917 28'). Jer 15'° shows that the relation between debtor and creditor was proverbially an unpleasant one. In Ps 37^' it is part of the misfortune of the wicked that he shall be unable to pay his debts; there is no reference to dishonesty. Pr. 22', Sir la's warn against borrowing, and Sir 29 has some delightful common-sense advice on the whole subject.

2, In NT. — Loans are assumed by our Lord as a normal factor in social life (Mt 25", Lk 16' IQ^'). Lk 6S4. Si suggests that the Christian will not always stand on his rights in this respect. Debt is used as a synonym for sin in Mt 6" (cf. the two parables Mt IS^', Lk 7"; and Col 2"). The context of these passages is a sufil-cient warning against the external and legalistic view of sin which might be suggested by the word itself. Christ does not imply that it is a debt which can be paid by any amount of good deeds or retributive suffering. The word is chosen to emphasize our duty of forgiveness, and it has a wide meaning, including all we owe to God. The metaphor of the money payment has ceased to be prominent, except where it is implied by the context.

C. W. Emmet. DECALOCrUE.— See Ten Commandments. DECAPOLIS. — Originally a league of ten cities,

Greek in population and constitution, for mutual defence against the Semitic tribes around them. It must have come into existence about the beginning of the Christian era. The original ten cities, as enumerated by Pliny, were ScythopoUs, Pella, Dion, Gerasa, Philadelphia, Gadara, Kaphana, Kanatha, Hippos, and Damascus. Other cities joined the league from time to time. The region of DecapoUs (Mt 4^5, Mk S'^" 7'*) was the territory in which these cities were situated; that is (excluding Damascus), roughly speaking, the country S.E. of the Sea of Galilee. R. A. S. Macalister.

DECEASE.— The Gr. word exodos ('exodus," out-going') is translated 'decease' in Lk 9" and 2 P 1", the meaning being departure out of the world. In this sense the Gr. word is used also in Wis 3^ 7«, Sir 382s. The opposite, dsodos, is used of the ' coming' of Christ. The only other occurrence of the Gr. exodos in NT is in He lli», of the Exodus from Egypt (AV and RV 'departure').

DECENTLY.— 1 Co 14", 'Let all things be done decently and in order,' that is, in a comely, handsome manner; for that is the old meaning of 'decent,' and it is the meaning of the Gr. word used.

DECISION. — Duly constituted and recognized author-ities have the power of decision granted to them in all questions of right in the Bible. Moses (Ex IS"), the judges (1 S 7"), and the kings (1 K 3"*-) exercise this power upon occasion. Questions of right between Christian brethren are to be decided by Church courts and not by civil authorities (Mt 18", 1 Co 6'-»). The only method of decision sanctioned in the N'T is the exercise of godly judgment on the part of the individual to whom authority has been granted. The casting of lots by heathen soldiers (Mk 15=*) and the sortilege of Ac 1"-M cannot be cited as examples for the Christian Church. No instance of the casting of lots can be found after Pentecost. The Spirit of a sound mind now decides what is right and what is true.

D. A. Hayes. DECISION, VALLET OF.— The phrase is found only

in Jl 3" ' Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision;

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