DEBATE (a-bat% (Heb. mats-Es-awl.
Among evils of the Gentiles given in the Epistle to the Romans (i:29) Paul includes de bate,- the rendering of Gr. epic, er'is, wrang ling, strife (A.V.). In early English to debate was to tight and wrangle.
DEBITt (Whir), (Heb. deb-7-er% sanctuary, place of the oracle).
1. A city in the tribe of Judah, about thirty miles southwest from Jerusalem, and ten miles west of Hebron. It was also called Kirjath-sepher (Josh. xv :is). and Kirjath-sannah (xv :49). The name Debir means 'a word' or 'oracle,' and is applied to that most secret and separated part of the Temple, or of the most holy place, in which the ark of the covenant was placed, and in which re sponses were given from above the cherubim. From this, coupled with the fact that Kirjath sepher means 'book-city,' it has been conjectured that Debir was some particularly, sacred place or seat of learning among the Canaanites, and a re pository of their records. 'It is not indeed prob
able,' as Professor Bush remarks, 'that writing and books, in our sense of the words, were very common among the Canaanites; but some method of recording events, and a sort of learning was, doubtless, cultivated in those rcgions.' Debir was taken by Joshua (x :38) : but it being afterward retaken by the Canaanites, Caleb. to whom it was assigned. gave his daughter Achsah in marriage to his nephew Othniel for his bravery in carrying it by storm (Josh. xv :16). The town was after ward given to the priests (xxi :15). No trace of it is to be found at the present time.
2. A place belonging to Gad, beyond the Jordan (Josh. xiii :26).
3. A town on the north boundary of Judah near to the valley of Achor (Josh. xv :7), and therefore back of Jericho.
4. A king of Eglon, in the low country of Ju dah, and one of the five hanged by Joshua (Josh. x :3, 23).