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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Alliance
A treaty between nations, or between individuals, for their mutual
advantage. Abraham formed an alliance with some of the Canaanitish
princes (Gen. 14:13), also with Abimelech (21:22-32). Joshua and the
elders of Israel entered into an alliance with the Gibeonites (Josh.
9:3-27). When the Israelites entered Palestine they were forbidden to
enter into alliances with the inhabitants of the country (Lev. 18:3, 4;
20:22, 23). Solomon formed a league with Hiram (1 Kings 5:12). This
"brotherly covenant" is referred to 250 years afterwards (Amos
1:9). He also appears to have entered into an alliance with Pharaoh (1
Kings 10:28, 29). In the subsequent history of the kingdoms of Judah and
Israel various alliances were formed between them and also with
neighbouring nations at different times. From patriarchal times a
covenant of alliance was sealed by the blood of some sacrificial victim.
The animal sacrificed was cut in two (except birds), and between these
two parts the persons contracting the alliance passed (Gen. 15:10).
There are frequent allusions to this practice (Jer. 34:18). Such
alliances were called "covenants of salt" (Num. 18:19; 2 Chr.
13:5), salt being the symbol of perpetuity. A pillar was set up as a
memorial of the alliance between Laban and Jacob (Gen. 31:52). The Jews
throughout their whole history attached great importance to fidelity to
their engagements. Divine wrath fell upon the violators of them (Josh.
9:18; 2 Sam. 21:1, 2; Ezek. 17:16).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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