9 Bible Verses about Alliances
Most Relevant Verses
Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; which dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, which were confederate with Abram.
And it chanced, the same season, that Abimelech and Phicol his chief captain spake unto Abraham saying, "God is with thee in all that thou doest. Now therefore swear unto me even here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me nor my children, nor my children's children. But that thou shalt deal with me and the country where thou art a stranger, according unto the kindness that I have showed thee." Then said Abraham, "I will swear."read more.
And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had taken away. And Abimelech answered, "I wist not who did it: Also thou toldest me not, neither heard I of it, but this day." And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech. And they made both of them a bond together. And Abraham set seven lambs by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, "What mean these seven lambs which thou hast set by themselves?" And he answered, "Seven lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well." Wherefore the place is called Beersheba, because they sware both of them. Thus made they a bond together at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol his chief Captain rose up and turned again unto the land of the Philistines. And Abraham planted a wood in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God: and dwelt in the Philistine land a long season.
Then came Abimelech to him from Gerar; and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol his chief captain. And Isaac said unto them, "Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me and have put me away from you?" Then said they, "We saw that the LORD was with thee, and therefore we said that there should be an oath betwixt us and thee, and that we would make a bond with thee:read more.
that thou shouldest do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and have done unto thee nothing but good, and send thee away in peace: for thou art now the blessed of the LORD." And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. And they rose up betimes in the morning and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away. And they departed from him in peace. And the same day came Isaac's servants, and told him of a well which they had digged: and said unto him, that they had found water. And he called it Sheba, wherefore the name of the city is called Beersheba unto this day.
Now therefore, come on, let us make a bond, I and thou together, and let it be a witness between thee and me." Then took Jacob a stone and set it up on end, and said unto his brethren, "Gather stones." And they took stones, and made a heap, and they ate there, upon the heap.read more.
And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called Gilead. Then said Laban, "This heap be witness between thee and me this day." Therefore is it called Gilead. "And this toot-hill which the LORD seeth," said he, "be witness between me and thee when we are departed one from another: that thou shalt not vex my daughters neither shalt take other wives unto them. Here is no man with us: behold, God is witness betwixt thee and me." And Laban said moreover to Jacob, "Behold, this heap and this mark which I have set here, betwixt me and thee: this heap be witness and also this mark, that I will not come over this heap to thee, and thou shalt not come over this heap and this mark, to do any harm. The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their fathers, be judge betwixt us." And Jacob sware by him that his father Isaac feared. Then Jacob did sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and tarried all night in the hill.
And Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, which called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people ate, and worshipped their gods, and Israel coupled himself unto Baal-Peor. Then the LORD was angry with Israel,
But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared.read more.
And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us." And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?" And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?" And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the 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 beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey." And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim. And the children of Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And therefore all the multitude murmured against the lords. But all the lords said unto all the congregation, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them. But this we will do to them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them." And the lords said unto them, "Let them live, that they may be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation," as the lords said unto them. Then Joshua sent for them, and talked with them, and said, "Wherefore have ye beguiled us and yet ye dwell among us? And now therefore cursed be you, and there shall not cease to be of you, bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the house of my God." And they answered Joshua and said, "It was told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabiters thereof out of your sight, and therefore we were exceeding sore afraid of our lives because of you. And now, behold, we are in thine hand; as it seemeth good and right in thine eyes to do unto us, so do." And he dealt as it is said with them, and rid them out of the hands of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua made them that same day hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the congregation and unto the altar of God unto this day, in the place which God should choose.
And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him went unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, both he and his men, every man with his household; and David with his two wives: Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife of Carmel. And when it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath, he sought no more for him.read more.
And David said unto Achish, "If I have found grace in thine eyes, let me have a place in some town in the fields, that I may dwell there. For what should thy servant dwell in the head city of the kingdom with thee?" Then Achish gave him Ziklag the same day; for which cause Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was a year and four months. And David and his men went and ran upon the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites: which nations were from the beginning the inhabiters of the land, as men go to Shur, and so forth to Egypt. And David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took the sheep, the oxen, the asses, camels, and clothes, and removed and came to Achish. And Achish said, "Have ye not been a roving this day?" And David answered, "Yes, in the south of Judah, and in the south of the Jezreelites, and in the south of the Kenites." But David let neither man nor woman come living unto Gath, and thought, "They might peradventure speak, and report against us, 'Thus did David.'" And this was his manner as long as he dwelt in the land of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, "He hath made himself to stink unto his people Israel, and thereto he shall be my servant forever."
From Thematic Bible
Alliances » Evil » Examples of heathen nations uniting in
Then 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, both they and all their hosts and went up and besieged Gibeon, and made war against it.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish: But Joshua smote him and his people, until he left him nought remaining.
And all these kings met together, and came and pitched together upon the water of Merom, for to fight with Israel.
And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees.
Alliances » Evil » Examples of God's people seeking
After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer.
Thou keepest thy foot from nakedness, and thy throat from thirst, and thinkest thus in thyself, 'Tush: I will take no sorrow; I will love the strange gods, and hang upon them.'
"There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
And Jehoshaphat became very rich and glorious, and joined affinity with Ahab.
They go down into Egypt, and ask me no counsel; to seek help at he power of Pharaoh, and comfort in the shadow of the Egyptians.
Alliances » Political » With idolaters forbidden
and when the LORD thy God hath set them before thee that thou shouldest smite them: see that thou utterly destroy them and make no covenant with them nor have compassion on them.
And Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out against him and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Oughtest thou to help the wicked, and to love them that hate the LORD? In this verily is the wrath of the LORD upon thee.
They go down into Egypt, and ask me no counsel; to seek help at he power of Pharaoh, and comfort in the shadow of the Egyptians.
Woe be unto them that go down into Egypt for help, and trust in horses, and comfort themselves in chariots, because they be many, and in horsemen because they be lusty and strong. But they regard not the holy one of Israel, and they ask no question at the LORD.
Ephraim keepeth the air, and followeth after the east wind: he is ever increasing lies and destruction. They be confederate with the Assyrians, their oil is carried into Egypt.
Alliances » Ratification of » By oaths
Now therefore swear unto me even here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me nor my children, nor my children's children. But that thou shalt deal with me and the country where thou art a stranger, according unto the kindness that I have showed thee."
Then said they, "We saw that the LORD was with thee, and therefore we said that there should be an oath betwixt us and thee, and that we would make a bond with thee: that thou shouldest do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and have done unto thee nothing but good, and send thee away in peace: for thou art now the blessed of the LORD." And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. read more.
And they rose up betimes in the morning and sware 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 save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim. read more.
And the children of Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And therefore all the multitude murmured against the lords. But all the lords said unto all the congregation, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them. But this we will do to them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them."
And so Jonathan made a bond with the house of David, desiring that the LORD should seek, out of the hands of David's enemies, their wickedness. And with other words Jonathan adjured David, because he loved him. For as his own soul he loved him.
Alliances » Instances of » Zedekiah and pharaoh
Jedekiah the son of Josiah, which was made king through Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, reigned in the land of Judah, in the stead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people in the land would obey the words of the LORD, which he spake by the Prophet Jeremiah. Nevertheless Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the Priest to the Prophet Jeremiah, saying, "O pray thou unto the LORD our God for us." read more.
Now Jeremiah walked free among the people at that time, and was not put in prison as yet. Pharaoh's host also was come out of Egypt: which when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem perceived, they departed from thence. Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: This answer shall ye give to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me for counsel, 'Behold, Pharaoh's host which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into his own land: but the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, win it, and set fire upon it.
But he fell from him, and sent his Ambassadors into Egypt that he might have horses and much people. Should that prosper? Should he be kept safe, that doth such things? Or should he escape, that breaketh his covenant? As truly as I live, sayeth the LORD God, he shall die at Babylon: in the place where the king dwelleth, that made him king, whose oath he hath despised, and whose covenant he hath broken. Neither shall Pharaoh, with his great host and multitude of people, maintain him in the war: when they cast up ditches, and set up bulwarks to destroy much people.
Alliances » Instances of » Ahaz and tiglath
For Ahaz took away out of the house of the LORD and out of the king's house and out of the Lord's houses, and gave unto the king of Assyria, though it helped him not.
Then Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am thy servant and thy son, come and deliver me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which are risen against me." And Ahaz took the silver and the gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasure of the king's house, and sent it for a reward to the king of Assyria.
Alliances » Instances of » Asa and benhadad
Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying, "There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
"There is a confederation between me and thee, and so was between my father and thine, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou go and break thine covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
Alliances » Instances of » Jehoshaphat and ahab
And Jehoshaphat became very rich and glorious, and joined affinity with Ahab.
Alliances » Instances of » Solomon and hiram
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon and they were confedered together.
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of the city of Tyre, I will not spare her: because they have increased the captivity of the Edomites, and have not remembered the brotherly covenant.
Alliances » Instances of » Isaac and abimelech
Then came Abimelech to him from Gerar; and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol his chief captain. And Isaac said unto them, "Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me and have put me away from you?" Then said they, "We saw that the LORD was with thee, and therefore we said that there should be an oath betwixt us and thee, and that we would make a bond with thee: read more.
that thou shouldest do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and have done unto thee nothing but good, and send thee away in peace: for thou art now the blessed of the LORD." And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. And they rose up betimes in the morning and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away. And they departed from him in peace.
Alliances » Instances of » Abraham and abimelech
And it chanced, the same season, that Abimelech and Phicol his chief captain spake unto Abraham saying, "God is with thee in all that thou doest. Now therefore swear unto me even here by God, that thou wilt not hurt me nor my children, nor my children's children. But that thou shalt deal with me and the country where thou art a stranger, according unto the kindness that I have showed thee." Then said Abraham, "I will swear." read more.
And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had taken away. And Abimelech answered, "I wist not who did it: Also thou toldest me not, neither heard I of it, but this day." And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech. And they made both of them a bond together. And Abraham set seven lambs by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, "What mean these seven lambs which thou hast set by themselves?" And he answered, "Seven lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well." Wherefore the place is called Beersheba, because they sware both of them. Thus made they a bond together at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol his chief Captain rose up and turned again unto the land of the Philistines.
Alliances » Instances of » Moabites, amalekites, and ammonites
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD. And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees.
Alliances » Instances of » Canaanitish nations against israel
And when all the kings that dwell on this side Jordan, in the hills and valleys, and along by all the coasts of the great sea even unto Lebanon - the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perezites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites - heard, they gathered themselves together to fight against Joshua and Israel with one accord.
Alliances » Instances of » Jehoshaphat and ahaziah
After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer.
Alliances » Instances of » Between abraham and mamre, eshcol, and aner
Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; which dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, which were confederate 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 fight. And they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
Alliances » Ratification of » By giving the hand
Afore time we yielded ourselves to the Egyptians, and now to the Assyrians, only that we might have bread enough.
Alliances » Instances of » Joshua and the gibeonites
Evil » Alliances » Examples of heathen nations uniting in
Then 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, both they and all their hosts and went up and besieged Gibeon, and made war against it.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish: But Joshua smote him and his people, until he left him nought remaining.
And all these kings met together, and came and pitched together upon the water of Merom, for to fight with Israel.
And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of palm trees.
Evil » Alliances » Examples of God's people seeking
After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, which was a wicked doer.
Thou keepest thy foot from nakedness, and thy throat from thirst, and thinkest thus in thyself, 'Tush: I will take no sorrow; I will love the strange gods, and hang upon them.'
"There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
And Jehoshaphat became very rich and glorious, and joined affinity with Ahab.
They go down into Egypt, and ask me no counsel; to seek help at he power of Pharaoh, and comfort in the shadow of the Egyptians.
Topics on Alliances
Forbidden Alliances
Exodus 23:32-33And thou shalt make none covenant with them nor with their gods.
Political Alliances, By Oaths
1 Samuel 20:16-17And so Jonathan made a bond with the house of David, desiring that the LORD should seek, out of the hands of David's enemies, their wickedness.
