Throughout the history of the Israelites, the Bible records numerous instances where they formed alliances or engaged in societal practices with the enemies of God, leading to spiritual and moral decline. These alliances often resulted in the Israelites forsaking their covenant with God, adopting idolatrous practices, and facing divine judgment.

1. The Gibeonite Deception:
One of the earliest examples of the Israelites forming an alliance with their enemies is found in the account of the Gibeonites. In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites, fearing the advancing Israelites, resorted to deception to secure a treaty. Despite God's command to destroy the inhabitants of the land, the Israelites, led by Joshua, made a covenant with the Gibeonites without seeking the Lord's counsel. "So Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them" (Joshua 9:15). This alliance led to complications and conflicts in the future.

2. Intermarriage with Pagan Nations:
The Israelites frequently intermarried with the surrounding pagan nations, directly contravening God's command to remain separate. In Judges 3:5-6, it is recorded, "Thus the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods" . This intermingling led to the adoption of idolatrous practices and a turning away from the worship of Yahweh.

3. Solomon's Foreign Wives:
King Solomon, despite his wisdom, formed alliances through marriage with many foreign women, which ultimately led him astray. 1 Kings 11:1-4 states, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. They were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away" . Solomon's alliances through marriage led to idolatry and the eventual division of the kingdom.

4. Ahab and Jezebel:
King Ahab's marriage to Jezebel, a Phoenician princess and ardent worshiper of Baal, is another significant example. This alliance brought Baal worship into Israel and led to severe consequences. 1 Kings 16:31-33 records, "And as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not enough, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him" .

5. Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab:
King Jehoshaphat of Judah, known for his piety, made an ill-advised alliance with Ahab, king of Israel, through marriage and military cooperation. This alliance is detailed in 2 Chronicles 18:1-3, "Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. Then after some years, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him, and urged him to march up to Ramoth-gilead" . This alliance nearly cost Jehoshaphat his life and brought God's rebuke.

These examples illustrate the recurring theme of the Israelites forsaking their unique identity and covenant relationship with God by forming alliances with pagan nations. Such alliances often led to idolatry, moral decay, and divine judgment, serving as a cautionary tale of the dangers of compromising with the enemies of God.Numbers 16:27
So they got up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 6:21,22
And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 10:3,4,16,17
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Massillon -- the Small Number of the Elect
... the ordinances, and broken the alliance which should ... Repasts"those innocent ties
of society"degenerate into ... which God afflicts you, the enemies He raised ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/massillon the small number.htm

part ii
... the soul or the ship of human society; and pray ... heavenly crowns and eternal life
with God and His ... endure injustice, abuse, etc., and to pray for our enemies. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

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