2. Leaf of a door ("^iJ, fse'la, a side, in 1 Kings vi, 34 [where the latter clause has, prob. by error, i'pjr, ke'- lanff, a curtain], means the valre of a folding door ; so also r^'^l, de'lcth, a door [Isa. xlv, 1]). See Door.
3. Leaf of a book (rblj, de'leth, a door-ralce, as above, hence perhaps a fold of a roll [Jer. xxxvi, 23], like our column of a volume). See Book.
League (r'i"l2, berith', a contract or "covenant;" also T^n, c/idbar' [Dan. xi, 23], to "join" in alliance; P^2, karaili', to cut, i.e. "make" a league), a political confederacy or treaty. That the Hebrews, surrounded on every side by idolatrous nations, might not be seduced to a defection from Jehovah their king, it was necessary that they shoidd be kept from too great an intercourse with those nations by the establishment of various sin- gular rites ; but, lest this seclusion from them should be the source of hatred to other nations, Moses constantly taught them that they should love their neiijhhor, i. e. every one with whom they had intercourse, including foreigners (Exod. xxii, 21 ; xxiii, 9 ; Lev. xix, 34; Deut. X, 18, 19 ; xxiv, 17, 18 ; xxvii, 19 ; comp. Luke x, 25-37). To this end, he showed them that the benefits which (iod had conferred upon them in preference to other na- tions were tmdeservcd (Deut. vii, G-8 ; ix, 4-24). But, although the Hebrews individually were debarred from any close intimacy with idolatrous nations by various rites, yet as a nation they were permitted to form trea-
LEAGUE OF CAMBRAY
306
LEANDER
ties with Gentile states, with the foUowiiic; exceptions : (1.) The Canaaniles, including the I'hilisiines ; with these nations the Hebrews were not permitted to enter into anv alliance whatever (Exod. xxiii, 32, 33 ; xxxiv, 12-lG; Deut. vii, 1-1 1; xx, 1-18). The Phoenicians, although Canaanites, were not included in this deep hostility, as they dwelt on the northern shore of the countrj-, were shut up within their own limits, and did not occupy the land promised to the patriarchs. (2.) The Ama'lekites, or Canaanites of Arabia, were also des- tined to hereditary enmity, unceasing war, and total ex- termination (Exod. xvii. 8, 14 ; Deut. xxv, 17-19 , Judg. vi, 3-5; 1 Sam. xv, 1, 33; xxvii, 8, 9; xxx, 1, 17, 18). (3.) The Moahites and A mmonites were to be excluded forever from the right of treaty or citizenship with the Hebrews, but were not to be attacked in war, except when provoked by previous hostiUty (Deut. ii, 9-19 ; xxiii, 3-C ; Judg. iii, 12-30 , 1 Sam. xiv, 47 ; 2 Sam. viii, 2 ; xii, 20). With the Midianitish nation at large there was no hereditarj- enmity, but those tribes who had con- spired with the Moabites were ultimately crushed in a war of dreadful severity (Numb, xxv, 17, 18; xxxi,l-18). Yet those tribes which did not participate in the hostili- ties against the Hebrews were included among the na- tions with whom alliances might be formed, but in later times they acted in so hostile a manner that no perma- nent peace could be preserved with them (Judg. vi, 1-40 ; vii, 1-25; viii, 1-21). No war was enjoined against the Edomites ; and it was expressly enacted that, in the tenth generation, they, as well as the Egyptians, might be admitted to citizenship (Xumb. xx, 14-21 ; Deut. ii, 4-8). The Edomites also, on their part, conducted themselves peaceably towards the Hebrews till the time of David, when their aggressions caused a war, in which they were overcome. From that time they cherished a secret hatred against the Hebrews (2 Sam. viii, 13, 14). War had not been determined on against the Amorites on the east of the Jordan ; but, as they not only refused a free passage, but opposed the Hebrews with arms, they were attacked and beaten, and their country fell into the hands of the Hebrews (Numb, xxi, 21-35; Deut. i, 4; ii, 24-37; iii, 1-18; iv, 4(5-49 ; Judg. xi, 13-23). Treaties were permitted with all other nations, provided they were such as would tend to the public welfare. David accordmgly maintained a friendly national in- tercourse with the kings of Tyre and Hamath, and Sol- omon with the kings of Tyre and Egypt, and ^vith the queen of Sheba. Even the Maccabees, those zealots for the law, did not hesitate to enter into compact with the Romans. When the prophets condemn the treaties which were made with the nations, they did so, not be- cause they were contrary to the Mosaic laws, but be- cause they were impolitic and ruinous measures, which betrayed a want of confidence in Jehovah their king. The event always showed in the most striking manner the proprietv of their rebukes (2 Kings xvii, 4; xviii, 20,21; XX, 12, 13; 2 Chron. xx, 35-37 ; xxviii, 21; Isa. vii, 2; xxx, 2-12; xxxi, 1-3 ; xxxvi, 4-7; xxxix, 1-8; Hos. v, 13 ; vii, 11 ; xii, 1 ; Jer. xxxvii, 5-10), See Al-
LI.\NCE.
League of Cambray is the name of the league entered into (A.D. 15(is) lietween pope Julius H, the emperor JIaximilian, and tlie kings of France and Na- varre, to make war, by the aid of both spiritual and temporal arms, against the re])ublic of Venice. See Ju- i.irsll; Mam.mii.ian ; Viixici:.