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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Adoni-zedec</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/adoni-zedec.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/joshua/10-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/adoni-zedec.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Adoni-zedec</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/a/adonizedec.htm" title="Adonizedec">◄</a> Adoni-zedec <a href="/topical/a/adonizedek.htm" title="Adonizedek">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Adoni-zedec, 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. Adoni-zedec's reign and actions are pivotal in understanding the broader context of the Israelite conquest and the resistance they faced from the Canaanite kings.<br><br><b>Historical Context</b><br><br>Adoni-zedec 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, fulfilling the divine mandate to possess the land promised to the descendants of Abraham. The conquest of Jericho and Ai had already demonstrated the Israelites' military prowess and the favor of Yahweh upon them.<br><br><b>Alliance Against Gibeon</b><br><br>The narrative of Adoni-zedec is primarily recorded in <a href="/bsb/joshua/10.htm">Joshua 10</a>. Alarmed by the treaty between the Gibeonites and the Israelites, Adoni-zedec perceived a significant threat to the regional balance of power. Gibeon was a great city, "like one of the royal cities" (<a href="/joshua/10-2.htm">Joshua 10:2</a>), and its alliance with Israel posed a direct challenge to the Canaanite kings.<br><br>In response, Adoni-zedec formed a coalition with four other Amorite kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. This alliance aimed to punish Gibeon for its treaty with Israel and to curb the growing influence of the Israelites in the region.<br><br><b>The Battle of Gibeon</b><br><br>Adoni-zedec and his allies laid siege to Gibeon, prompting the Gibeonites to call upon Joshua for assistance. In a remarkable display of faith and obedience, Joshua led a surprise night march from Gilgal to Gibeon. The Lord assured Joshua of victory, saying, "Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you" (<a href="/joshua/10-8.htm">Joshua 10:8</a>).<br><br>The ensuing battle was marked by divine intervention. As the Israelites fought, the Lord threw the Amorite armies into confusion, and "the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky" (<a href="/joshua/10-11.htm">Joshua 10:11</a>), causing more deaths than the Israelites' swords. Additionally, Joshua famously commanded the sun and moon to stand still, prolonging the day until the Israelites achieved complete victory (<a href="/joshua/10-12.htm">Joshua 10:12-14</a>).<br><br><b>Defeat and Death</b><br><br>Following the defeat at Gibeon, Adoni-zedec and the other kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered the cave's entrance to be sealed with large stones and guarded. After securing the victory, Joshua commanded that the kings be brought out. In a symbolic act of triumph, the Israelite commanders placed their feet on the necks of the kings, demonstrating the Lord's deliverance and the subjugation of their enemies (<a href="/joshua/10-24.htm">Joshua 10:24</a>).<br><br>Subsequently, Joshua executed Adoni-zedec and the other kings, hanging their bodies on trees until evening, after which they were cast back into the cave and sealed with stones (<a href="/joshua/10-26.htm">Joshua 10:26-27</a>). This act served as a powerful testament to the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of Israel in the land.<br><br><b>Legacy</b><br><br>Adoni-zedec's defeat is a testament to the sovereignty of God over the nations and His faithfulness to Israel. His account illustrates the futility of opposing God's purposes and the ultimate triumph of divine justice. The account of Adoni-zedec and the Amorite coalition underscores the theme of God's intervention in history to accomplish His will, a recurring motif throughout the biblical narrative.<a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Lord of justice or righteousness, was king in Jerusalem at the time when the Israelites invaded Palestine (<a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Joshua 10:1</a>, 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 <a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Joshua 10:1</a>-27. (Comp. <a href="/deuteronomy/21-23.htm">Deuteronomy 21:23</a>). Among the Tell Amarna tablets (see <a href="../e/egypt.htm">EGYPT</a>) are some very interesting letters from Adoni-zedec to the King of Egypt. These illustrate in a very remarkable manner the history recorded in <a href="/context/joshua/10.htm">Joshua 10</a>, 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. <a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/139.htm"><span class="l">139. Adoni-tsedeq -- "Lord of righteousness," king of Jer.</span></a><br><b>...</b> NASB Word Usage Adoni-zedek (2). <b>Adonizedec</b>. From 'adown and tsedeq; lord of justice;<br> Adoni-Tsedek, a Canaanitish king -- <b>Adonizedec</b>. see HEBREW 'adown. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/139.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/jerome/the_principal_works_of_st_jerome/letter_lxxvi_to_abigaus.htm"><span class="l">Letter Lxxvi. To Abigaus.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> receive circumcision anew at Gilgal, [2318] that Jericho must fall before her,<br> overthrown by the blasts of priestly trumpets, [2319] that <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b> must be <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxvi to abigaus.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/adonizedec.htm"><span class="l"><b>Adonizedec</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Among the Tell Amarna tablets (see EGYPT) are some very interesting letters from<br><b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b> to the King of Egypt. <b>...</b><b>Adonizedec</b> (2 Occurrences). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adonizedec.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/adoni-zedec.htm"><span class="l"><b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b>. <b>Adonizedec</b>, <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b>. Adonizedek . Easton's Bible Dictionary <b>...</b> <br><b>Adonizedec</b>, <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b>. Adonizedek . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adoni-zedec.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/g/gibeon.htm"><span class="l">Gibeon (39 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> of southern Canaan entered into a confederacy against Gibeon (because it had entered<br> into a league with Joshua) under the leadership of <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b>, king of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/g/gibeon.htm - 31k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/jericho.htm"><span class="l">Jericho (59 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> In one of the Amarna tablets <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b> (qv) writes to the king of Egypt informing<br> him that the `Abiri (Hebrews) had prevailed, and had taken the fortress of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/jericho.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/adonis.htm"><span class="l">Adonis (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adonis.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/adonizedek.htm"><span class="l">Adonizedek</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adonizedek.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm"><span class="l">Joshua (211 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> confirm its historicity. The Amarna tablets (see <b>ADONIZEDEC</b>) are among the<br> most remarkable discoveries of the age. Dating from about <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/joshua.htm - 101k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm"><span class="l">Egypt (596 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> There occur the names of three kings killed by Joshua, <b>Adoni</b>-<b>zedec</b>, king of Jerusalem,<br> Japhia, king of Lachish (Joshua 10:3), and Jabin, king of Hazor (11:1 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/egypt.htm - 101k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/makkedah.htm"><span class="l">Makkedah (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1/2 southwest of Ekron, because, they say, "at this site only of all possible sites<br> for Makkedah in the Palestine plain do caves still exist." (see <b>ADONI</b>-<b>ZEDEC</b><b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/makkedah.htm - 12k</font><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-of-Adonai.html">What is the meaning of Adonai? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Adoni-Bezek.html">Who was Adoni-Bezek? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.html">What are the different names of God, and what do they mean? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Adoni-zedec (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/joshua/10-1.htm">Joshua 10:1</a></span><br />Now it came to pass, when <span class="boldtext">Adoni-zedec</span> king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;<br /><span class="source">(WBS)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/joshua/10-3.htm">Joshua 10:3</a></span><br />Wherefore <span class="boldtext">Adoni-zedec</span> king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,<br /><span class="source">(WBS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/adoni-zedec.htm">Adoni-zedec</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/elamarna.htm">Elamarna</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tablets.htm">Tablets (31 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/el-amarna.htm">El-amarna</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tell.htm">Tell (3056 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adoni-zedec.htm">Adoni-zedec (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adoni-zedek.htm">Adoni-zedek (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jebusites.htm">Jebusites (29 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem (782 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eglon.htm">Eglon (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adonibezek.htm">Adonibezek (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lachish.htm">Lachish (22 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/adonizedec.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Adonizedec"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Adonizedec" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/adonizedek.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Adonizedek"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Adonizedek" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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