Confederacy
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In the context of the Bible, the term "confederacy" refers to an alliance or league formed between groups or nations for a common purpose. This concept is seen throughout the Scriptures, where various peoples and nations form alliances for military, political, or economic reasons. The idea of a confederacy is often associated with both positive and negative connotations, depending on the nature and purpose of the alliance.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 14:1-16: One of the earliest examples of a confederacy in the Bible is found in the account of the War of the Kings. Four kings, led by Chedorlaomer, formed a confederacy to wage war against five other kings in the region of the Dead Sea. This alliance was ultimately defeated by Abram (later Abraham), who rescued his nephew Lot. This narrative illustrates the use of confederacies for military purposes and highlights the role of divine intervention in the affairs of men.

2. Joshua 9:1-15: The Gibeonites, fearing the Israelites, formed a deceptive confederacy by pretending to be from a distant land to secure a peace treaty with Joshua. This alliance, though based on deceit, was honored by the Israelites due to their oath before God. This passage underscores the importance of seeking divine guidance before entering into alliances.

3. Isaiah 8:12: The prophet Isaiah warns against forming confederacies with those who do not trust in the Lord. "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it." This admonition serves as a reminder to rely on God rather than human alliances for security and guidance.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention confederacies in the same manner as the Old Testament, the concept of alliances and unity is present in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The early church is encouraged to form a spiritual confederacy, united in faith and purpose.

1. Acts 4:32: The early believers are described as being "of one heart and soul," sharing everything they had. This spiritual unity reflects a positive form of confederacy, where the common purpose is the advancement of the Gospel and the support of one another.

2. 2 Corinthians 6:14: Paul advises believers not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers," which can be interpreted as a warning against forming alliances that compromise one's faith. This principle can be applied to the idea of confederacies, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment in forming partnerships.

Theological Implications

The concept of confederacy in the Bible often serves as a test of faith and obedience to God. Alliances formed without seeking divine guidance can lead to negative consequences, as seen in the history of Israel and Judah. Conversely, when alliances are formed with a focus on God's will and purpose, they can lead to blessings and the fulfillment of divine promises.

In summary, the biblical perspective on confederacies highlights the importance of aligning with God's purposes and seeking His guidance in forming alliances. Whether in the context of ancient Israel or the early church, the underlying principle remains the same: trust in the Lord and seek His wisdom in all endeavors.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A league or compact between two or more persons or states; an alliance.

2. (n.) The persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league; a confederation.

3. (n.) A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CONFEDERATE; CONFEDERACY

kon-fed'-er-at, kon-fed'-er-a-si: "Confederate" as an adjective in the sense of united or leagued is twice the translation of berith "covenant," in several instances translated "league" (Genesis 14:13, ba`al berith, "lord or master of a covenant," "an ally,") "these were confederate with Abram"; compare Psalm 83:5; once of nuach, "to rest," "Syria is confederate with Ephraim" (Isaiah 7:2, the Revised Version, margin "resteth on Ephraim"; also 1 Maccabees 10:47).

As a noun "confederate" occurs in 1 Maccabees 10:16, summachos, "confederates" (1 Maccabees 8:20, 24, 31; 14:40; 15:17).

Confederacy, as a "league," occurs as the translation of berith, "the men of thy confederacy" (Obad 1:7); as a conspiracy it occurs in Isaiah 8:12 twice, as translation of qesher from qashar, "to bind": "Say ye not, a confederate." Compare 2 Samuel 15:12 2 Kings 12:20, etc.

W. L. Walker

Strong's Hebrew
7195. qesher -- conspiracy
... confederacy, conspiracy, treason. From qashar; an (unlawful) alliance -- confederacy,
conspiracy, treason. see HEBREW qashar. 7194, 7195. qesher. 7196 . ...
/hebrew/7195.htm - 6k

1285. berith -- a covenant
... 1), El-berith* (1), league (2), treaty (4). confederacy, confederate, covenant,
league. From barah (in the sense of cutting (like ...
/hebrew/1285.htm - 6k

Library

The Seventh (And Last) vision "On Earth"
... C 19. The Beast and his Confederacy on Earth. ... The scene in Revelation 19.-17, 18
is occupied with the Beast and the False Prophet and their confederacy. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the seventh and last vision.htm

Mr. Beecher in England
... MR. BEECHER IN ENGLAND. The most critical time for the North during the Civil War
was when it was thought that England would recognise the Southern Confederacy. ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/mr beecher in england.htm

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in ...
... The Lord instructed Isaiah, and in him all his own people, all the children whom
God had given him, saying, "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iv that it is.htm

The Complement of Genesis.
... A confederacy against Abraham's people overthrown (xiv.). A confederacy against
Abraham's seed overthrown (xii.). Marriage of first Adam (ii.18-23). ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the complement of genesis.htm

The Cambridge Platform and the Half-Way Covenant
... years before, in 1643, the four colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
and New Haven had united in the New England Confederacy, or "Confederacy of ...
/.../chapter iv the cambridge platform.htm

Sermon at the Faribault Celebration of the Centennial of the ...
... March, 1781. Congress under he confederacy dealt with the States and did not
have the confidence or the love of the people. It required ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whipple/five sermons/ii sermon at the faribault.htm

Knox's Writings from Abroad: Beginning of the Scottish Revolution ...
... "Flee all confederacy with that generation," the Hamiltons; with whom, after all,
Knox was presently to be allied, though by no means fully believing in the ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter viii knoxs writings from.htm

The Fort Sumter Expedition
... When it became evident that the North had won the victory and that the defeat of
the Confederacy was at hand, President Lincoln decided to celebrate the event ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/the fort sumter expedition.htm

Let us Pass on Now to Theatrical Exhibitions, which we have ...
... But Venus and Bacchus are close allies. These two evil spirits are in sworn confederacy
with each other, as the patrons of drunkenness and lust. ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter x let us pass.htm

Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's ...
... given them. Moab might have had peace, and the friendship of Israel, but
refused it, and joined the confederacy against them. When ...
/.../sermon xviii balaks inquiries relative.htm

Thesaurus
Confederacy (2 Occurrences)
... See Conspiracy. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CONFEDERATE; CONFEDERACY. ... WL
Walker. Multi-Version Concordance Confederacy (2 Occurrences). ...
/c/confederacy.htm - 8k

Confederate (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) One who is united with others in a league; a person or a nation engaged
in a confederacy; an ally; also, an accomplice in a bad sense. ...
/c/confederate.htm - 9k

League (20 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A treaty or confederacy. ... 4. (vi) To unite in a league
or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate. ...
/l/league.htm - 14k

Conspiracy (17 Occurrences)
... itself in words or deeds, by which two or more persons confederate to do an unlawful
act, or to use unlawful to do an act which is lawful; confederacy. Int. ...
/c/conspiracy.htm - 12k

Fearful (73 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 8:12 Ye do not say, A confederacy, To all to whom this people saith,
A confederacy, And its fear ye do not fear, Nor declare fearful. (YLT). ...
/f/fearful.htm - 28k

Judah (802 Occurrences)
... JUDAH, KINGDOM OF. " I. CANAAN BEFORE THE MONARCHY 1. The Coming of the Semites
2. The Canaanites 3. The Israelite Confederacy 4. Migration into Canaan 5. The ...
/j/judah.htm - 101k

Neapolis (1 Occurrence)
... It appears (under the name Neopolis, which is also borne on its coins) as member
both of the first and of the second Athenian confederacy, and was highly ...
/n/neapolis.htm - 9k

Uzziah (27 Occurrences)
... The Edomites, Philistines and Arabians were successively subdued (these being members
of a confederacy which, in an earlier reign, had raided Jerusalem and ...
/u/uzziah.htm - 27k

Jabin (8 Occurrences)
... the entrance of Israel into Canaan (Joshua 11:1-14), whose overthrow and that of
the northern chief with whom he had entered into a confederacy against Joshua ...
/j/jabin.htm - 11k

Jobab (9 Occurrences)
... (2.) King of Edom, succeeded Bela (Genesis 36:33, 34). (3.) A Canaanitish king
(Joshua 11:1) who joined the confederacy against Joshua. Int. ...
/j/jobab.htm - 10k

Resources
What is the Revived Roman Empire? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible prophesy a one-world government and a one-world currency in the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Does China have a role in the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Confederacy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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