Adoni-zedek אֲדֹנִי־צֶ֫דֶק
King of Jerusalem who fought against Joshua
Who is Adoni-zedek in the Bible?
Adoni-zedek was the king of Jerusalem during Joshua's conquest of Canaan, mentioned in Joshua 10:1 and 10:3. When he learned that Joshua had destroyed Ai and that Gibeon had made peace with Israel, Adoni-zedek formed an alliance with four other Amorite kings, Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon, to attack Gibeon and resist the Israelite advance. Joshua responded by marching to Gibeon's aid, and in the ensuing battle, Adoni-zedek and his allies were defeated, trapped in a cave, and executed by Joshua's command (Joshua 10:12-27). His story illustrates both the unified resistance of Canaanite powers against Israel and the decisive military victories that marked Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land.
Biography
Adoni-zedek was the king of Jerusalem during the time of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. He is mentioned in Jos.10.1 and Jos.10.3 as one of the Amorite kings who opposed the Israelites' advance into the Promised Land.
When Adoni-zedek heard that Joshua had captured Ai and destroyed it, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made a peace treaty with Israel, he became greatly alarmed. Gibeon was a significant city, and its alliance with Israel posed a threat to the other Amorite kings in the region.
Adoni-zedek formed an alliance with four other Amorite kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. Together, they attacked Gibeon to punish them for making peace with Israel (Jos.10.3-4).
The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua, requesting help, and Joshua marched all night with his army to come to their aid. In the ensuing battle, the Lord threw the Amorite kings into confusion, and Israel defeated them with a great slaughter. The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah (Jos.10.5-16).
Joshua commanded that the cave be sealed until the battle was finished. After the victory, he brought the five kings out of the cave, and the Israelite commanders put their feet on the kings' necks, symbolizing their complete defeat. Joshua then struck and killed the kings, hanging their bodies on trees until evening (Jos.10.17-27).
The defeat of Adoni-zedek and the other Amorite kings was a significant victory for Israel, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness in giving them the Promised Land. It also served as a warning to the other Canaanite kings who would oppose Israel's advance.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJoshua 2 verses
- Joshua 10:1
"Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 10:3
"Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲדֹנִי־צֶ֫דֶק |
Adoni-zedek
n of the Gibeonites, he entered into a league with four other kings to resist Joshua and Israel, and to punish Gibeon (Jos 10:3,4), but was overthrown by Joshua in a memorable battle (Jos 10:12-14). Adoni-zedek and his four allies were shut up in a cave, while the battle lasted, and afterward were taken out by Joshua's order, put to death and hanged on trees (Jos 10:22-27). It is noticeable that the name is almost the equivalent of Melchizedek, malkitsedheq, "king of righteousness," who was ruler of Jerusalem in the time of Abraham.
Edward Mack
a-do-ni-be'-zek ('adhonibhezeq "lord of Bezek"): Lord of a town, Bezek, in southern Palestine, whom the tribes of Judah and Simeon overthrew. Adonibezek fled when his men were defeated, but was captured, and was pu