Bible Dictionary
TREATY
A treaty is a formal covenant or alliance between peoples or rulers. Israel was forbidden to make treaties with the Canaanites, yet later kings entered political alliances with neighboring nations, often receiving prophetic warnings against trusting them.
Definition
A treaty is a formal covenant, league, or alliance between peoples or rulers. It establishes a relationship of agreement, often for friendship, mutual assistance, resistance to enemies, or preservation of independence.
Biblical Usage
Israel was forbidden to covenant with the Canaanites because of the danger of religious apostasy and moral contamination. After the monarchy arose, Israelite and Judean kings entered alliances with Tyre, Syria, Egypt, and other powers, though prophets condemned reliance on such arrangements.
Historical Background
Treaties became common after the rise of the monarchy because Israel stood among surrounding nations. Alliances were sometimes formed against Assyria or Babylon, or to oppose hostile neighboring rulers.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>tre'-ti (berith, karath berith, "make a covenant," "league," "treaty"): Although the Israelites were forbidden to make treaties, or enter into covenant, with the Canaanites because of the risk thereby involved of religious apostasy and moral contamination (Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2; Jud 2:2), they were so situated in the midst of the nations that treaty relations of some sort with their neighbors were from time to time inevitable. After the rise of the monarchy, treaties were common. David and Solomon had friendly relations with Hiram, king of Tyre (1Ki 5:15); Asa, to rid himself of the hostile approaches of Baasha, king of Israel, entered into a league with Ben-hadad of Syria, which the prophet Hanani denounced (2Ch 16:1); Ahab entered into a similar compact with Ben-hadad's son and successor, and set him at liberty when he was his prisoner of war (1Ki 20:34); and at a later time Jehoshaphat joined Ahab in an expedition against Ben-hadad II to Ramoth-gilead in which Ahab lost his life (1Ki 22). Sometimes with Syria and neighboring states against the terrible Assyrian power, and sometimes with Egypt against Assyria or Babylon, the kings of Israel and Judah entered into treaty to resist their advances and to preserve their own independence (2Ki 17:4; Ho 7:11; Isa 30:1). Against such alliances the prophets raised their testimony (Isa 31:1; Jer 27:3).</p><p>See also WAR, 9; ROME, V, 1.</p><p>T. Nicol</p>