When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore. – 1 Chronicles 19:19

Today’s Scripture Reading (April 28, 2019): 1 Chronicles 19

In an increasingly interconnected world, I readily admit that I do not understand isolationist foreign policies. On the world stage, no country, including the United States, Russia, China, and India, can go it alone. We need each other. Maybe one of the reasons that isolationist policies are attractive, even if they are useless, is the reality that foreign policy is hard. Foreign policy is dependent on the idea that each nation has something that it can offer to help the other, or that there is a situation so dangerous to the global environment that someone has to step in and do something to minimize the possible future damage, or that humanitarian concerns demand that others help. With these things in mind, the nations begin to build relationships with each other.

In ancient times, one of the most fundamental concerns of foreign policy was the security of the countries borders. It wasn’t, as seems to be traditionally understood today, the protection of a nation from unwanted immigrants, although that could be a concern. In the ancient world, the driving force behind an excellent foreign policy was the recognition that, in a world where an attack from the air was impossible, that the borders of a nation are where enemy invaders would ultimately have to cross. If a country could surround itself with friends, then there would be increased security, or at least increased warnings about the coming invasion. And this security would last until another nation lured them away with promises a better life or making them more secure.

The Arameans supported the Ammonites because that was what was in their best interest.  Aram and Ammon were neighboring nations sharing a border with Israel to the east. They had developed a foreign policy that included the idea of mutual protection. When Ammon insulted Israel, they immediately called on their northern neighbors, Aram, for help in defending themselves from Israel’s retaliation.

But the battle between Ammon and Israel did not go well for the Ammonites. It was Ammon’s actions that had instigated the conflict, Ammon had drawn Aram into the battle, but Ammon did not have the strength to defend themselves, let alone Aram, from the Israelite forces. And so the foreign policy that had existed between Aram and Ammon had outlived its usefulness. If the Ammonites wanted to go around picking fights with neighbors, Aram no longer saw the benefit of maintaining the relationship, and so Aram began developing a foreign policy that included Israel. And Israel secured its borders by either defeating or developing foreign policies with its neighbors which were to the benefit of Israel.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 20

Personal Note: Happy first birthday to my Grandson, James.