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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Alliances
On the first establishment of the Hebrews in Palestine no connections
were formed between them and the surrounding nations. But with the
extension of their power under the kings, alliances became essential to
the security of their commerce. Solomon concluded two important treaties
exclusively for commercial purposes the first with Hiram king of Tyre (1
Kings 5:2-12; 9:27) the second with a Pharaoh, king of Egypt. (1 Kings
10:28,29) When war broke out between Amaziah I and Jeroboam II, a
coalition was formed between Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah on the one
side, and Ahaz and Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, on the other. (2
Kings 16:5-9) The formation of an alliance was attended with various
religious rites. A victim was slain and divided into two parts, between
which the contracting parties passed. (Genesis 15:10) Generally speaking
the oath alone is mentioned in the contracting of alliances, either
between nations, (Joshua 9:15) or individuals. (Genesis 25:28; 31:53; 1
Samuel 20:17; 2 Kings 11:4) The event was celebrated by a feast. Genesis
l.c.; (Exodus 24:11; 2 Samuel 3:12,20) Salt, as symbolical of fidelity,
was used on these occasions. Occasionally a pillar or a heap of stones
was set up as a memorial of the alliance. (Genesis 31:52) Presents were
also sent by the parties soliciting the alliance. (1 Kings 15:18; Isaiah
30:6); 1 Macc 16:18. The fidelity of the Jews to their engagements was
conspicuous at all periods of their history, (Joshua 9:18) and any
breach of covenant was visited with very severe punishment. (2 Samuel
21:1; Ezekiel 17:16)
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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