a name given to the valley of Jehoshaphat (q.v.) as the vale of the sentence. The scene of Jehovah's signal inflictions on Zion's enemies (Joe 3:14; marg., "valley of concision or threshing").

The phrase is found only in Joe 3:14 'Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.' This valley is evidently the valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in the preceding context (Joe 3:2,12). The decision is that of Jehovah Himself, His final judgment upon the heathen assembled. The scene of this judgment has been fixed by Jews, Roman Catholics, and Mohammedans in the Valley of the Kidron. The valley of Jehoshaphat has been identified with the Valley of the Kidron since the time of Eusebius. Orelli, Michaelis, Robinson, and others think the valley of this prophecy is purely a symbolic one, the valley of 'Jehovah's judgment,' as the Heb. name Jehoshaphat ('Jehovah hath judged') suggests.

D. A. Hayes.