If David decided to take 0.5% of the first fruits of Israel's crops and herds, turned this into money, and then gave this to Syria, Sidon or Tyre, what would the prophets have said about him?
He has taken that which is not his, and given at no cost to himself, to people not of his kingdom. There is nothing righteous in this act.
David himself would have condemned it:
"24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver" (2 Samuel 24:24).
To give that which is not his, at no cost to himself was the opposite of righteousness or charity. David was horrified at the suggestion of it.
This is what foreign aid is. It is intrinsically immoral. You cannot even make a case for the benefit to society from it, because once it leaves these shores, almost all accountability disappears. But to take what is not yours to give at no cost to yourself is not charity. Not even close.
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