Adonizedec, whose name means "Lord of Righteousness," was the king of Jerusalem during the time of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. He is a significant figure in the biblical narrative found in the Book of Joshua, particularly in chapters 10 and 12. Adonizedec's reign and actions are emblematic of the resistance faced by the Israelites as they sought to claim the land promised to them by God.

Historical Context

Adonizedec ruled Jerusalem, a city that held strategic and cultural importance in the ancient Near East. During his reign, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, were advancing into Canaan, having already achieved significant victories, including the fall of Jericho and Ai. The presence and success of the Israelites posed a direct threat to the existing Canaanite city-states, prompting Adonizedec to take action.

Alliance Against Gibeon

The catalyst for Adonizedec's actions was the treaty between the Israelites and the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites, fearing the might of Israel, had deceived Joshua into making a peace treaty with them (Joshua 9). This alliance angered Adonizedec, as Gibeon was a significant city, and its defection to Israel's side weakened the Canaanite coalition.

In response, Adonizedec formed a confederation with four other Amorite kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. Together, they launched an attack on Gibeon to punish it for allying with Israel and to curb the growing influence of the Israelites in the region.

The Battle of Gibeon

The narrative of the battle is detailed in Joshua 10. Upon learning of the Amorite coalition's attack on Gibeon, the Gibeonites sent an urgent plea for help to Joshua, who was camped at Gilgal. Joshua responded swiftly, leading his forces on an all-night march to surprise the Amorite kings.

The battle that ensued was marked by divine intervention. As the Israelites engaged the Amorite forces, the Lord threw the enemy into confusion, allowing Israel to gain the upper hand. The biblical account highlights a miraculous event where the sun stood still, prolonging the day to ensure Israel's victory. Joshua 10:13 states, "So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies."

Defeat and Death

The defeat of the Amorite coalition was decisive. The five kings, including Adonizedec, fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered the cave's entrance to be sealed with large stones and later brought the kings out for execution. Joshua 10:26 records, "After this, Joshua struck them down and killed them, and he hung their bodies on five trees, where they remained until evening."

Legacy

Adonizedec's attempt to resist the Israelites ultimately failed, serving as a testament to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. His account is a reminder of the divine support that accompanied Israel's conquest and the futility of opposing God's ordained plans. Adonizedec's defeat is listed among the victories of Joshua in Joshua 12:10 , which states, "the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one."

Adonizedec's narrative underscores the broader theme of God's sovereignty and the establishment of Israel in the Promised Land, as well as the judgment upon the Canaanite nations for their idolatry and opposition to God's people.Lord of justice or righteousness, was king in Jerusalem at the time when the Israelites invaded Palestine (Joshua 10:1, 3). He formed a confederacy with the other Canaanitish kings against the Israelites, but was utterly routed by Joshua when he was engaged in besieging the Gibeonites. The history of this victory and of the treatment of the five confederated kings is recorded in Joshua 10:1-27. (Comp. Deuteronomy 21:23). Among the Tell Amarna tablets (see EGYPT) are some very interesting letters from Adoni-zedec to the King of Egypt. These illustrate in a very remarkable manner the history recorded in Joshua 10, and indeed throw light on the wars of conquest generally, so that they may be read as a kind of commentary on the book of Joshua. Here the conquering career of the Abiri (i.e., Hebrews) is graphically described: "Behold, I say that the land of the king my lord is ruined", "The wars are mighty against me", "The Hebrew chiefs plunder all the king's lands", "Behold, I the chief of the Amorites am breaking to pieces." Then he implores the king of Egypt to send soldiers to help him, directing that the army should come by sea to Ascalon or Gaza, and thence march to Wru-sa-lim (Jerusalem) by the valley of Elah. 139. Adoni-tsedeq -- "Lord of righteousness," king of Jer.
... NASB Word Usage Adoni-zedek (2). Adonizedec. From 'adown and tsedeq; lord of justice;
Adoni-Tsedek, a Canaanitish king -- Adonizedec. see HEBREW 'adown. ...
/hebrew/139.htm - 6kAdonizedec (2 Occurrences)
... of Elah. Multi-Version Concordance Adonizedec (2 Occurrences). Joshua
10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem ...
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Adoni-zedec (2 Occurrences)
Adoni-zedec. Adonizedec, Adoni-zedec. Adonizedek . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Adonizedec, Adoni-zedec. Adonizedek . Reference Bible.
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Adonis (1 Occurrence)

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Joshua (211 Occurrences)
... confirm its historicity. The Amarna tablets (see ADONIZEDEC) are among the
most remarkable discoveries of the age. Dating from about ...
/j/joshua.htm - 101k

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