9 Bible Verses about Alliances
Most Relevant Verses
And some man came who had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner. And these were allies with Abram.
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou do. Now therefore swear to me here by God that thou will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to thee, thou shall do to me, and to the land in which thou have And Abraham said, I will swear.read more.
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water which Abimelech's servants had taken away violently. And Abimelech said, I know not who has done this thing, neither did thou tell me, nor yet did I hear of it, but today. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech. And the two made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said to Abraham, What do these seven ewe lambs mean which thou have set by themselves? And he said, These seven ewe lambs thou shall take from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there they swore both of them. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. And Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. And [Abraham] planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of LORD, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. And Isaac said to them, Why have ye come to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw plainly that LORD was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and thee. And let us make a covenant with thee,read more.
that thou will do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done to thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou are now the blessed of LORD. And he made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. And they rose up promptly in the morning, and swore one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, We have found water. And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou, and let it be for a witness between me and thee. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said to his brothers, Gather stones, and they took stones, and made a heap. And they ate there by the heap.read more.
And Laban called it Jegar-saha-dutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. And Laban said, This heap is witness between me and thee this day. Therefore the name of it was called Galeed, and Mizpah. For he said, May LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another, if thou will afflict my daughters, and if thou will take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us, see, God is witness between me and thee. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set between me and thee. This heap is witness, and the pillar is witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shall not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us. And Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. And Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brothers to eat bread. And they ate bread, and tarried all night on the mountain.
And Israel abode in Shittim. And the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor, and the anger of LORD was kindled against Israel.
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they also worked shrewdly, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up, and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and became moldy.read more.
And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country, now therefore make ye a covenant with us. And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you? And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are ye, and from where do ye come? And they said to him, From a very far country. Thy servants have come because of the name of LORD thy God, for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants, and now make ye a covenant with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you, but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy. And these wine-skins, which we filled, were new, and, behold, they are torn. And these our garments and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their provision, and did not ask counsel at the mouth of LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. And the sons of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. And the sons of Israel did not smite them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the rulers. But all the rulers said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel, now therefore we may not touch them. This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. And the rulers said to them, Let them live. So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the rulers had spoken to them. And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be bondmen of you, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore w And now, behold, we are in thy hand. As it seems good and right to thee to do to us, do. And so he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the sons of Israel, that they did not kill them. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of LORD to this day in the place which he should choose.
And David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath, and he sought no more again for him.read more.
And David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country that I may dwell there, for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to this day. And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. And David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for those [nations] were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old as thou go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the apparel, and he returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Against whom have ye made a raid today? And David said, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so has been his manner all the while he has dwelt in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him. Therefore he shall be my servant forever.
From Thematic Bible
Alliances » Evil » Examples of heathen nations uniting in
that they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel with one accord.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped ag
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua smote him and his people until he had left him none remaining.
And all these kings met together. And they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
And he gathered to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
Alliances » Evil » Examples of God's people seeking
And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. But thou said, It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.
[There is] a league between me and thee, between my father and thy father. Behold, I have sent to thee a present of silver and gold. Go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance. And he joined affinity with Ahab.
who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
Alliances » Political » With idolaters forbidden
and when LORD thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shall smite them, then thou shall utterly destroy them. Thou shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should thou help the wicked, and love those who hate LORD? For this thing wrath is upon thee from before LORD.
who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek LORD!
Ephraim feeds on wind, and follows after the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. And they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
Alliances » Ratification of » By oaths
Now therefore swear to me here by God that thou will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to thee, thou shall do to me, and to the land in which thou have
And they said, We saw plainly that LORD was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and thee. And let us make a covenant with thee, that thou will do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done to thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou are now the blessed of LORD. And he made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. read more.
And they rose up promptly in the morning, and swore one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. And the sons of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. read more.
And the sons of Israel did not smite them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the rulers. But all the rulers said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by LORD, the God of Israel, now therefore we may not touch them. This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], And LORD will require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him. For he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Alliances » Instances of » Zedekiah and pharaoh
And Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah. But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, hearkened to the words of LORD, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah. And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to LORD our God for us. read more.
Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people, for they had not put him into prison. And Pharaoh's army came forth out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke away from Jerusalem. Then the word of LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Thus says LORD, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: Behold, Pharaoh's army, which has come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and they shall take it, and burn it with fire.
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? As I live, says lord LORD, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons.
Alliances » Instances of » Ahaz and tiglath
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of LORD, and out of the house of the king and of the rulers, and gave it to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son. Come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me. And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
Alliances » Instances of » Asa and benhadad
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son o [There is] a league between me and thee, between my father and thy father. Behold, I have sent to thee a present of silver and gold. Go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
[There is] a league between me and thee, as between my father and thy father. Behold, I have sent thee silver and gold. Go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel that he may depart from me.
Alliances » Instances of » Jehoshaphat and ahab
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance. And he joined affinity with Ahab.
Alliances » Instances of » Solomon and hiram
And LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two made a league together.
Thus says LORD: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment of it, because they delivered up the whole people to Edom, and did not remember the brotherly covenant.
Alliances » Instances of » Isaac and abimelech
Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. And Isaac said to them, Why have ye come to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw plainly that LORD was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and thee. And let us make a covenant with thee, read more.
that thou will do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done to thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou are now the blessed of LORD. And he made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. And they rose up promptly in the morning, and swore one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
Alliances » Instances of » Abraham and abimelech
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou do. Now therefore swear to me here by God that thou will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son. But according to the kindness that I have done to thee, thou shall do to me, and to the land in which thou have And Abraham said, I will swear. read more.
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water which Abimelech's servants had taken away violently. And Abimelech said, I know not who has done this thing, neither did thou tell me, nor yet did I hear of it, but today. And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech. And the two made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said to Abraham, What do these seven ewe lambs mean which thou have set by themselves? And he said, These seven ewe lambs thou shall take from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there they swore both of them. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. And Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Alliances » Instances of » Moabites, amalekites, and ammonites
And the sons of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of LORD. And LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel because they had done that which was evil in the sight of LORD. And he gathered to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
Alliances » Instances of » Canaanitish nations against israel
And it came to pass, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon--the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the that they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel with one accord.
Alliances » Instances of » Jehoshaphat and ahaziah
And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.
Alliances » Instances of » Between abraham and mamre, eshcol, and aner
And some man came who had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner. And these were allies with Abram.
Alliances » Instances of » Rezin and pekah
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war, and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
Alliances » Ratification of » By giving the hand
We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
Alliances » Instances of » Joshua and the gibeonites
Evil » Alliances » Examples of heathen nations uniting in
that they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel with one accord.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped ag
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua smote him and his people until he had left him none remaining.
And all these kings met together. And they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
And he gathered to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
Evil » Alliances » Examples of God's people seeking
And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. The same did very wickedly.
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. But thou said, It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.
[There is] a league between me and thee, between my father and thy father. Behold, I have sent to thee a present of silver and gold. Go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance. And he joined affinity with Ahab.
who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
Topics on Alliances
Political Alliances, By Oaths
1 Samuel 20:16-17So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], And LORD will require it at the hand of David's enemies.