In the context of the Bible, the term "tributaries" refers to nations or peoples that are subject to another, more powerful nation, often required to pay tribute as a sign of submission and allegiance. This concept is prevalent throughout the Old Testament, where the dynamics of power, conquest, and subjugation are frequently depicted.

Old Testament Context

The idea of tributaries is closely linked to the historical and geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, where empires such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia exerted control over smaller nations. These empires often demanded tribute from conquered peoples as a means of asserting dominance and ensuring loyalty.

In the book of Joshua, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquer the land of Canaan. The Canaanite cities and peoples, unable to withstand the Israelites, become tributaries. Joshua 16:10 states, "But they did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the Ephraimites but are forced to serve as laborers." This passage illustrates how the Canaanites became subject to the Israelites, serving as laborers or paying tribute.

Similarly, during the reign of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel reached its zenith in terms of wealth and influence. Solomon's wisdom and political acumen led to alliances and subjugation of surrounding nations, which paid tribute to Israel. 1 Kings 4:21 notes, "So Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These countries brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life."

Prophetic Literature

The prophetic books often address the theme of tributaries in the context of divine judgment and restoration. The prophets frequently warned Israel and Judah about the consequences of their disobedience to God, which included becoming tributaries to foreign powers. For instance, in the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks of the Assyrian threat and the eventual subjugation of Israel. Isaiah 31:8 declares, "Then Assyria will fall by a sword not of man; a sword not of mortals will devour them. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor."

Conversely, the prophets also foretold a time when Israel would be restored and no longer serve as tributaries to other nations. In the eschatological vision of the book of Zechariah, the nations that once oppressed Israel would themselves become tributaries. Zechariah 14:16 states, "Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not explicitly discuss the concept of tributaries in the same geopolitical sense as the Old Testament, the theme of subjugation and liberation is present. The Roman Empire, which ruled over Judea during the time of Jesus, imposed taxes and tributes on its subjects. Jesus' teaching on paying taxes to Caesar, found in Matthew 22:21 , "Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s," reflects the reality of living under Roman authority while maintaining spiritual allegiance to God.

The New Testament also emphasizes spiritual liberation through Christ, who frees believers from the bondage of sin and death. This liberation transcends earthly political structures and points to a kingdom not of this world, where Christ reigns supreme and all nations ultimately submit to His authority.

Conclusion

The concept of tributaries in the Bible serves as a reminder of the shifting dynamics of power and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all nations. Throughout biblical history, the rise and fall of empires and the subjugation of peoples underscore the transient nature of human authority in contrast to the eternal kingdom of God.(n.) Plural of Tributary.

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... take the hands of Bel, and assume or receive from them a new throne-name, they could
not resign themselves to descend to the level of mere tributaries: in less ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Judging, Therefore, that it Stood Thus with this Matter...
... property. And treasures of gold and silver flowed in upon me; and I made
the kings of all nations my dependants and tributaries. ...
/.../a metaphrase of the book of ecclesiastes/chapter ii judging therefore that.htm

The Formation of Habits.
... There rises the Danube, which runs East and dies in the Black Sea, and also the
Neckar and a hundred other tributaries of the Rhine, which flows West, and ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxiv the formation of habits.htm

The Waterer Watered
... all-receiving ocean, pouring itself out every hour with happy plenteousness as though
it only existed to empty itself; yet the abundant tributaries which come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

Matt. xxii. 15
... Is it lawful to give tribute unto C??sar or not?" [2607]. For they were now tributaries,
their state having passed under the rule of the Romans. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxx matt xxii 15.htm

Contrasted Services
... penitence and confession"and the promise that Jerusalem shall not be destroyed,
but at the same time they are to be left as vassals and tributaries of Egypt ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/contrasted services.htm

The Rivers of God
... shall spring up from behind, and flow out from beneath, the temple doors, and then
with rapid increase and depth and width, but with no tributaries coming into ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the rivers of god.htm

Letter Xl. Julian to Basil.
... I mean too to devastate the country of the Indians and the Saracens until they
all acknowledge my superiority and become my tributaries. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xl julian to basil.htm

Of the Varying Condition of Both the Hebrew Kingdoms, Until the ...
... Yet not even then were they without foreign enemies and conquerors; yea,
Christ found them tributaries of the Romans. Footnotes: ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 23 of the varying condition.htm

That the Jews Ceased to have Prophets after the Rebuilding of the ...
... with him bound. From that time the Jews also began to be Roman tributaries.
Afterward Cassius plundered the very temple. Then after ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 45 that the jews ceased.htm

Tributaries (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Tributary. Multi-Version Concordance
Tributaries (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 20:11 And ...
/t/tributaries.htm - 7k

Expel (29 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:30 Neither did Zebulun expel the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants
of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. ...
/e/expel.htm - 15k

Jordan (188 Occurrences)
... side. Four or five miles below, it is joined on the East by the Yarmuk,
the ancient Hieromax the largest of all its tributaries. ...
/j/jordan.htm - 70k

Tributary (9 Occurrences)

/t/tributary.htm - 10k

Sea (4178 Occurrences)
... which formerly filled this has been swept into the head of the sea, while the Jarmuk,
the Jabbok, and a score of smaller tributaries descending rapidly from ...
/s/sea.htm - 87k

Dead (580 Occurrences)
... which formerly filled this has been swept into the head of the sea, while the Jarmuk,
the Jabbok, and a score of smaller tributaries descending rapidly from ...
/d/dead.htm - 80k

Nahaliel (1 Occurrence)
... Eusebius, Onomasticon places it near to the Arnon. It is natural to seek for
this "torrent valley" in one of the tributaries of the Arnon. ...
/n/nahaliel.htm - 7k

Onycha (1 Occurrence)
... (See Sir S. Baker, The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia, cited by EB, under the word
"Onycha.") Alfred Ely Day. Multi-Version Concordance Onycha (1 Occurrence). ...
/o/onycha.htm - 8k

Levy (19 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (1 Kings 4:6, RV; 5:13), forced service. The service
of tributaries was often thus exacted by kings. Solomon ...
/l/levy.htm - 13k

Willows (5 Occurrences)
... or to the closely allied Populus euphratus (also Natural Order Salicaceae), which
is even more plentiful, especially on the Jordan and its tributaries. ...
/w/willows.htm - 11k

What was Jesus' message to the church in Pergamum in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Tributaries: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus