God prohibits the Israelites from forging alliances with idolaters and from engaging in treaties that pertain to faith and the genuine worship of the Lord, matters that those ensnared by idolatry cannot truly comprehend. The confession of holy faith and the reverence it embodies stands in stark opposition to the impiety and malice of pagan beliefs. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the tragic and destructive state of nations steeped in idolatry, failing to honor the one true God. It is well known how perilous and harmful these nations are to true worshippers of God. Those who engage in wicked idolatry should be viewed as collaborators of the devil, who, in submission to Satan’s influence, are led by a reprobate mind to commit heinous acts. These diabolical accomplices, ensnared in depravity, revel in malevolence, unafraid to speak ill of the Almighty, who possesses the power to cast both body and soul into hell (Matthew 10). Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit warns us that associations with such individuals corrupt good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33).
This was the stance of God’s people. The Lord, who is only led in Judah and whose magnificent name is known in Israel (Psalm 75:2), had made it clear to His faithful followers that they should not find joy in associating with those whose evil and unrighteousness could invoke divine wrath from heaven. Engaging with such lawless and corrupt individuals would surely lead to their own ruin as they would become infected by the same destructive wickedness exhibited by those who do not revere the True God.
Regarding Abraham, it is clear that this righteous ancestor formed an alliance with Abimelech; he entered into an agreement with a heathen. However, this treaty was made with regard to temporary benefits, aimed solely at securing peace for his fellow tribesmen and ensuring the safety and tranquility of the land promised to him and his descendants by God. If one were to question whether it is wrong to seek personal benefit in agreements made with others, it is crucial to consider this: if those with whom we form contracts do not gain anything beneficial—whether due to ignorance, need, or fear—it would be sinful for us to pursue our own advantage. Although we might justify such covenants in the eyes of earthly judges, we cannot do so before God.
It is evident from this reasoning that all alliances and peaceful agreements are prohibited for the people of Israel with idolatrous nations for the same reasons that prohibited intermarriage between Israel and Canaan: to prevent these foreign nations from leading the Hebrews away from the true worship of God into idol worship. However, despite these divine prohibitions, there were instances where devout Jews entered into peaceful alliances with foreigners without compromising their faith; this occurred when they could not foresee any circumstances that would violate their commitment to God and His holy law, and when they remained vigilant against any temptation that might jeopardize their souls due to alliances with wicked polytheists. Such was the alliance between David, king of Israel, and Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Samuel 5), as well as that between Solomon, David's son, and Hiram (1 Kings 5). King Asa of Judah allied with the king of Syria (1 Kings 15), and Judas Maccabeus formed alliances with the Romans, as did Jonathan the Hierarch with both the Romans and the Spartans, as noted in 1 Maccabees 8 and 12.
THEOSIS