League

League (Hebrew berith, covenant) in the Old Testament denotes a treaty of alliance between peoples or kings. The Gibeonites obtained a league with Joshua by deception (Josh. 9:15–16), which Israel honored even at later cost (2 Sam. 21:1–9). The prophets consistently warned Israel against leagues with surrounding nations, particularly Egypt (Isa. 30:1–3), as these represented a failure to trust in the LORD rather than human alliances. Asa's league with Ben-hadad of Syria against Baasha was condemned by the prophet Hanani as an act of faithlessness that forfeited the possibility of greater victory (2 Chr. 16:7–9).