In the context of ancient Israel, the term "alien" refers to foreigners or non-Israelites residing among the people of Israel. The Mosaic Law provided specific guidelines regarding the treatment and roles of aliens within the Israelite community. One significant restriction placed upon the Israelites was the prohibition against appointing a foreigner as king over them.

This directive is found in the book of Deuteronomy, where God, through Moses, outlines the laws concerning kingship. Deuteronomy 17:14-15 states: "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, 'Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,' you are to appoint over yourselves the king the LORD your God chooses. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set a foreigner over you, one who is not of your brothers."

The command to appoint a king "from among your brothers" underscores the importance of maintaining a leadership that is intimately connected with the covenant community of Israel. This requirement ensured that the king would share in the religious, cultural, and historical heritage of the people he was to govern. The king was expected to uphold the laws and commandments given by God, which were central to the identity and mission of Israel as a nation set apart for God's purposes.

The prohibition against a foreign king also served to protect Israel from the influence of pagan practices and idolatry, which were prevalent among the surrounding nations. A foreign king might have introduced foreign gods and customs, leading the people away from their exclusive worship of Yahweh. By ensuring that the king was an Israelite, the law aimed to preserve the spiritual integrity and distinctiveness of the nation.

Throughout Israel's history, the importance of having a king who was an Israelite by birth and faith is evident. The kingship of David, a man after God's own heart, exemplified the ideal of a ruler who was deeply rooted in the covenant relationship with God. Conversely, the negative consequences of foreign influence are illustrated in the accounts of Solomon's later years, where his marriages to foreign women led to the introduction of idolatry and ultimately contributed to the division of the kingdom.

In summary, the biblical mandate that the Israelites were not to appoint a foreigner as king reflects a divine intention to maintain the purity and faithfulness of the nation to God's covenant. This law highlights the importance of leadership that is aligned with the spiritual and cultural values of the community, ensuring that the people remain faithful to their calling as God's chosen people.Deuteronomy 17:15
You shall in any wise set him king over you, whom the LORD your God shall choose: one from among your brothers shall you set king over you: you may not set a stranger over you, which is not your brother.
Nave's Topical Index

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians the Creator the Father of ...
... when they were Gentiles they were without Christ, aliens from (the ... Paul certainly
refers only to the obdurate Jews. ... just afterwards, which, we need not say, is ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xi the second epistle to.htm

Jesus Sets Out from Jud??a for Galilee.
... and spoke of them as strangers or aliens (Luke 17 ... of revelation and blessing had
made the Jews selfish, and ... by this selfishness that they could not conceive of ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxvi jesus sets out from 2.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... execrated more than the uncircumcised, were aliens from the ... once made his covenant
with the Jews, it was ... permitted to remain, so he did not suffer Antichrist ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

Daniel
... that during much of this long period the Jews had no ... in any case, partly symbolical,
and ought not to be ... the wise men, or because they, being aliens, must not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

The Difference Between the Two Testaments.
... was thus the Lord's favourite child the others were aliens. ... been put on the same
footing with the Jews. ... done briefly, because the objections are not so strong ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 the difference between.htm

Acts xiii. 16, 17
... fear, as having slain Him, and conscience made them aliens (the Apostles ... is: The
word is sent unto you because the Jews have fulfilled ... 670] ie Though not one of ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxix acts xiii 16.htm

Documents Connected with the Council of Tyre.
... Church, and point out those who were aliens, and that ... subject of the Mysteries, they
questioned Jews, they examined ... any sort of evil, eg did not inflict pain ...
/.../chapter vi documents connected with the.htm

2 Cor. I. 6, 7
... they are aliens, not yet united [to the body ... And to many of the Jews he accused Christ,
calling Him a ... so depraved [474] , as to stand and talk not only during ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily ii 2 cor i.htm

Go in Peace
... See the black looks of those Jews, those Pharisees, round ... glory for them belong to
him, and not to us ... at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/go in peace.htm

Nothing but Leaves
... of Africa as in the city of London, for they are without God, without hope, aliens
from the ... The Jews did this ... When Jesus Christ came it was not the time of figs ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/nothing but leaves.htm

If aliens were proved to exist, how would that discovery impact the Christian faith? | GotQuestions.org

Are there such things as aliens or UFOs? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian respond to illegal aliens/illegal immigrants? | GotQuestions.org

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