Dsory

See Debt, vol. i. p. 579 f. We may add here liiat the Babylonian contract tablets show that the p.ayment of interest was an established custom from the time of Khammurabi (c. 2200 B.C.) onwards. Doubtle.ss it had already existed for centuries in the time of that king. He interferes to enforce the paj-mcnt of a loan with interest. The usual rate of interest seems to have been 20 per cent., though the payment is also mentioned of 11a and 13^. In another case a loan is to be repaid within two montlis, after which 10 per cent, interest w ill be charged. In addition to silver or money there are lent corn, dates, sesame seed, and onions. Some of the loans are secured on houses, slaves, etc. ; and in one case the services of the slave specified as security are given in place of interest. These contract tablets, etc., extend from c. '2'JO.l B.C. to c. 100 B.C. {Guide to Bab. and Assyr. Ant., Hrit. Mus., 1900, pp. 1'22-191). At Athens, in the classical period, interest varied from 12 to 20 per cent., at Kome from 84 to 12 [ler cent. ; but towards tlie beginning of the Christian era the rate of interest at Kome was lowered llirougli the accumulation of capital, but high rates still prevailed in the provinces. In Greece and Rome money was often lent and interest ])aid by the month. See art. 'Interest' in Diet. Claxa. Ant., O. SeyUert, etc. W. H. BeNNETF. UTA (Ovri.), 1 Es 5**. — His sons returned among the temple servants undiM- Zcrubbabel. There is Do corresponding name in Ezra and Nehemiah. • A convenient and occeasibie mimmary of the more important of these oilier views will t>e found in I'lumptre's article in BniiUis nil. f J"«rnhiis' statement, 'the breastplate and snrdonvx (prob. Intended by him to represent Urim and Thuinniini) left off ihinint; two hundred years' before bis time, is too absurd to require refutation.