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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Alliances
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Framed by dividing a victim into two parts, between which the contracting parties passed, praying the similar cutting up of him who should violate the treaty (; -2)). Hence the Hebrew and Greek for to make a treaty is "to cut" it. Forbidden with the doomed Canaanites (; ). But peaceable relations with other nations as distinguished from copying their idolatries, were encouraged (; ; ). Solomon's alliance with Tyre for building the temple and other purposes was altogether right (-12; ); and Tyre is subsequently reproved for not remembering the brotherly covenant (). But alliances by marriage with idolaters are reprobated as incentives to latitudinarianism first and at last, to conformity with paganism (-6).
Solomen's alliance with Pharaoh by marriage was the precursor of importing horses contrary to the law, leaning too much on human forces, and of contracting alliances with Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite wives, who seduced him from God. Hence the care to guard against the same evil, at the return from Babylon (Ezra 9; 10; Nehemiah 13; -17). When pagans renounced idolatry for Israel's God, Israelites might lawfully wed them, as Rahab, Ruth, Zipporah. Shishak's invasion of Rehoboam's kingdom was probably due to Shishak's alliance with Jeroboam of Israel (2 Chronicles 12; , etc.). Ahaz' appeal to Tiglath Pileser for help against Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Syria opened the way to Assyrian and Babylonian predominance (2 Kings 16). Asa's alliance with Benhadad against Baasha was the turning point from good to evil in his life (-16; , etc.).
Jehoshaphat's alliance with ungodly Ahab and Ahaziah his son was the only blot on his character, and involved him in loss and reproof from God (2 Chronicles 18; ; -37). Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram's marriage with Ahab's daughter, Athaliah, was fatal to him and to Ahaziah and his other sons except Joash (2 Chronicles 21; 22). Hoshea's alliance with So or Sabacho of Egypt was his encouragement to rebel against Assyria, and brought on him the overthrow of Israel by Shalmaneser (). Hezekiah was tempted to lean on Egypt against the Assyrian Sennacherib (), and Tirhakah of Ethiopia did make a diversion in his favor (). Josiah on the other hand was Assyria's ally against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, and fell a victim to meddling in the world's quarrels (-25).
Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, leant on Egypt, and Pharaoh Hophra raised the siege of Jerusalem for a time; but Nebuchadnezzar returned and took it (-5; ). A "covenant of salt" (; ) expresses one indissoluble and incorruptible, as salt was sprinkled on the victim, implying incorruption and sincerity (). A pillar was sometimes set up (-52). Presents were sent by the seeker of the alliance (; ). Violation of it brought down divine wrath, even when made with a pagan (; Samuel 21; ).