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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: Adonibezek</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/adonibezek.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/judges/1-5.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/adonibezek.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> > Adonibezek</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/adonai-shalom.htm" title="Adonai-shalom">◄</a> Adonibezek <a href="/topical/a/adoni-bezek.htm" title="Adoni-Bezek">►</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="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <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="#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>Adonibezek is a figure mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Judges. He was a Canaanite king who ruled over the city of Bezek. His account is primarily found in <a href="/judges/1-4.htm">Judges 1:4-7</a>, where he is depicted as a powerful and ruthless leader who faced the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan.<br><br><b>Biblical Account:</b><br><br>The narrative of Adonibezek begins with the Israelites, under the leadership of the tribe of Judah, engaging in battle against the Canaanites and Perizzites. The Lord delivered these enemies into the hands of the Israelites, and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this victory: "And Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek" (<a href="/judges/1-4.htm">Judges 1:4</a>).<br><br>Adonibezek fled the battlefield but was pursued and captured by the Israelites. In a striking act of retribution, they cut off his thumbs and big toes. This punishment mirrored the treatment Adonibezek had inflicted upon seventy kings whom he had subdued and humiliated by cutting off their thumbs and big toes, forcing them to gather scraps under his table. Adonibezek acknowledged the justice of his fate, saying, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me" (<a href="/judges/1-7.htm">Judges 1:7</a>). After his capture, Adonibezek was brought to Jerusalem, where he died.<br><br><b>Historical and Theological Context:</b><br><br>Adonibezek's account is set during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by the Israelites' struggle to fully possess the Promised Land and their repeated cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The account of Adonibezek serves as an illustration of divine justice and retribution, reflecting the biblical principle that individuals often reap what they sow (cf. <a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7</a>).<br><br>The mutilation of Adonibezek is significant in the ancient Near Eastern context, where the removal of thumbs and big toes would render a warrior ineffective in battle and symbolize complete subjugation. This act by the Israelites can be seen as both a literal and symbolic demonstration of their victory over a formidable enemy.<br><br><b>Moral and Ethical Considerations:</b><br><br>From a moral and ethical standpoint, the account of Adonibezek raises questions about justice and the appropriate response to evil. The narrative suggests that Adonibezek's punishment was a direct consequence of his own actions, highlighting the biblical theme of divine retribution. This theme is consistent with the broader biblical narrative, where God's justice is often portrayed as both immediate and ultimate.<br><br><b>Legacy and Lessons:</b><br><br>Adonibezek's legacy is one of a cautionary tale about the consequences of pride and cruelty. His acknowledgment of God's justice serves as a reminder of the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations and individuals. The account encourages believers to trust in God's righteous judgment and to live in accordance with His commandments, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate His people and bring justice to the earth.<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Adonibezek</span><p>(<i>lord of Bezek</i>), king of Bezek, a city of the Canaanites. [<a href="../b/bezek.htm">BEZEK</a>] This chieftain was vanquished by the tribe of Judah, (<a href="/judges/1-3.htm">Judges 1:3-7</a>) who cut off his thumbs and great toes, and brought him prisoner to Jerusalem, where he died. He confessed that he had inflicted the same cruelty upon 70 petty kings whom he had conquered. (B.C. 1425).<a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Adonibezek</span><p>Lord of Bezek, a Canaanite tyrant of Bezek, east of Shechem. Having taken seventy of the neighboring petty chiefs, he disabled them by cutting off their thumbs and great toes, and fed them like dogs. The same barbarous treatment was meted out to him, when defeated at the head of an army of Canaanites and Perizzites, by Judah and Simeon, <a href="/context/jude/1-4.htm">Jude 1:4-7</a>. </p><a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Lord of Bezek, a Canaanitish king who, having subdued seventy of the chiefs that were around him, made an attack against the armies of Judah and Simeon, but was defeated and brought as a captive to Jerusalem, where his thumbs and great toes were cut off. He confessed that God had requited him for his like cruelty to the seventy kings whom he had subdued (<a href="/judges/1-4.htm">Judges 1:4</a>-7; Comp. <a href="/1_samuel/15-33.htm">1 Samuel 15:33</a>). <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ADONIBEZEK</span><p>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 punished for his cruelty in cutting off the thumbs and great toes of seventy kings by a similar mutilation. Being brought to Jerusalem, he died there (<a href="/judges/1-5.htm">Judges 1:5-7</a>). This not to be confused with Adonizedek, as in the Septuagint. This is quite another name.<p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/josephus/the_antiquities_of_the_jews/chapter_2_how_after_the.htm"><span class="l">How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> flourishing condition, and they expected the Israelites with a great army at the<br> city Bezek, having put the government into the hands of <b>Adonibezek</b>, which name <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how after the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/josephus/the_antiquities_of_the_jews/book_5_footnotes.htm"><span class="l">Book 5 Footnotes</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Of which above, in the note on Antiq. B. III. ch.8. sect.9. [11] This great number<br> of seventy-two reguli, or small kings, over whom <b>Adonibezek</b> had tyrannized <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_4/chapter_iisyria_at_the_beginning.htm"><span class="l">Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The extension of this term to Syrian countries is proved in the Israelitish epoch<br> by Canaanitish names, such as Adonizedek and <b>Adonibezek</b>, or Jewish names <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm</font><p><a href="/library/bunyan/the_works_of_john_bunyan_volumes_1-3/differences_in_judgment_about_water.htm"><span class="l">Differences in Judgment About Water Baptism, no Bar to Communion <b>...</b></span></a> <br>The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/differences in judgment about water.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/adonibezek.htm"><span class="l"><b>Adonibezek</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 1 Samuel 15:33). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>ADONIBEZEK</b>. <b>...</b> This is quite another<br> name. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Adonibezek</b> (2 Occurrences). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adonibezek.htm - 8k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/melchisedec.htm"><span class="l">Melchisedec (10 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> ending; but the correct explanation is no doubt the one given above; compare<br> Adoni-zedek in Joshua 10:1, where Septuagint with Judges 1:5-7 has <b>Adonibezek</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/melchisedec.htm - 17k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/melchizedek.htm"><span class="l">Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> ending; but the correct explanation is no doubt the one given above; compare<br> Adoni-zedek in Joshua 10:1, where Septuagint with Judges 1:5-7 has <b>Adonibezek</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/melchizedek.htm - 19k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/adonai-shalom.htm"><span class="l">Adonai-shalom (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br>Adonai-shalom. Adonai-nissi, Adonai-shalom. <b>Adonibezek</b> . Multi-Version Concordance <b>...</b><br> (See JPS). Adonai-nissi, Adonai-shalom. <b>Adonibezek</b> . Reference Bible <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adonai-shalom.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/adoni-bezek.htm"><span class="l">Adoni-bezek (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Adoni-bezek. <b>Adonibezek</b>, Adoni-bezek. Ado'ni-be'zek . Multi-Version Concordance <b>...</b><br> (WEB JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS NIV). <b>Adonibezek</b>, Adoni-bezek. Ado'ni-be'zek . <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/adoni-bezek.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/prisoner.htm"><span class="l">Prisoner (87 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> This was a common practice in Assyria (2 Kings 25:7). The thumbs and great toes<br> of <b>Adonibezek</b> were cut off to render him incapable of further resistance <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/prisoner.htm - 42k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/slew.htm"><span class="l">Slew (206 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (KJV WBS). Judges 1:5 And they found <b>Adonibezek</b> in Bezek: and they fought against<br> him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. (KJV WBS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/slew.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/prison.htm"><span class="l">Prison (131 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> This was a common practice in Assyria (2 Kings 25:7). The thumbs and great toes<br> of <b>Adonibezek</b> were cut off to render him incapable of further resistance <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/prison.htm - 52k</font><p><a href="/topical/k/king.htm"><span class="l">King (25505 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b><b>Adonibezek</b> subdued seventy kings (Judges 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor<br> is spoken of as a king (1 Peter 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/k/king.htm - 64k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><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">Adonibezek (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/judges/1-5.htm">Judges 1:5</a></span><br />And they found <span class="boldtext">Adonibezek</span> in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.<br /><span class="source">(KJV)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/judges/1-6.htm">Judges 1:6</a></span><br />But <span class="boldtext">Adonibezek</span> fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.<br /><span class="source">(KJV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/adonibezek.htm">Adonibezek</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adoni-bezek.htm">Adoni-bezek (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bezek.htm">Bezek (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/thumbs.htm">Thumbs (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/toes.htm">Toes (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/big.htm">Big (21 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fleeth.htm">Fleeth (54 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/requited.htm">Requited (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rout.htm">Rout (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/melchisedec.htm">Melchisedec (10 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/melchizedek.htm">Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/chased.htm">Chased (21 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/ado'ni-be'zek.htm">Ado'ni-be'zek (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adonai-shalom.htm">Adonai-shalom (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/picked.htm">Picked (43 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/prisoner.htm">Prisoner (87 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/perizzites.htm">Perizzites (23 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/perizzite.htm">Perizzite (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pursued.htm">Pursued (75 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fought.htm">Fought (109 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/paid.htm">Paid (86 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/seize.htm">Seize (91 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/slew.htm">Slew (206 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/caught.htm">Caught (110 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pursue.htm">Pursue (104 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/prison.htm">Prison (131 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/king.htm">King (25505 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fled.htm">Fled (181 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fight.htm">Fight (265 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/canaanite.htm">Canaanite (74 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/seventy.htm">Seventy (97 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/smote.htm">Smote (281 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/smite.htm">Smite (230 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua (211 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/canaanites.htm">Canaanites (63 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/table.htm">Table (125 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kings.htm">Kings (350 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kingdom.htm">Kingdom (409 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/adonai-shalom.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Adonai-shalom"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Adonai-shalom" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/adoni-bezek.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Adoni-Bezek"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Adoni-Bezek" /></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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