Lexical Summary Adoni-bezeq: Adoni-bezek Original Word: אֲדֹנִי־בֶזֶק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Adoni-bezek From 'adown and Bezeq; lord of Bezek; Adoni-Bezek; a Canaanitish king -- Adoni-bezek. see HEBREW 'adown see HEBREW Bezeq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom adon and Bezeq Definition "lord of Bezek," a ruler in Canaan NASB Translation Adoni-bezek (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲדֹנִיבֶֿ֫זֶק proper name, masculine (or title) king of Canaanite city Bezek Judges 1:7; without Maqqeph Judges 1:5; Judges 1:6. **Read probably קּצֶ֫דֶק׳א, see GFMJud 1:5. Topical Lexicon Identity and Historical Setting Adoni-Bezek, “lord of Bezek,” was a Canaanite ruler whose domain centered on the strategic city of Bezek in the Shephelah, the low-lying foothills between the Judean highlands and the coastal plain. His encounter with the tribes of Judah and Simeon occurs immediately after the death of Joshua, when Israel’s tribes began localized campaigns to consolidate their inheritance (Judges 1:1-4). The episode preserves one of the earliest post-Joshua victories and illustrates how Israel’s obedience to divine command brought rapid success against entrenched Canaanite authority. Occurrences in Scripture Judges 1:5-7 records the entirety of Adoni-Bezek’s biblical footprint: • Judges 1:5 – Judah and Simeon discover him at Bezek and defeat the Canaanites and Perizzites. Narrative Significance The account forms a paradigm of retributive justice in the opening chapter of Judges. By employing the same cruelty he had shown to defeated kings—severing thumbs and big toes—Israel acts as an instrument of divine recompense. The brief narrative simultaneously confirms God’s promise of victory (Deuteronomy 7:2) and warns that judgment will eventually visit every oppressor. Theological Themes: Divine Justice and Reciprocity 1. Lex Talionis in historical dress. Adoni-Bezek’s punishment mirrors the principle, “You shall purge the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 19:19). His own confession underscores the universal reach of divine moral order: “Seventy kings…As I have done, so God has repaid me” (Judges 1:7). Impact on Israel’s Early Conquests Adoni-Bezek’s fall galvanizes Judah’s campaign: the subsequent capture of Jerusalem’s stronghold (Judges 1:8) and victories in the hill country owe much to the momentum gained at Bezek. The alliance of Judah and Simeon highlights tribal unity under God’s directive, contrasting with later fragmentation in the book. Intertextual Echoes and Canonical Harmony • A narrative bridge from Joshua to Judges: just as Jericho announced the conquest, Bezek inaugurates the period of the judges. Ministry Reflections and Contemporary Application 1. Cruelty rebounds: leaders who demean others sow seeds of their own downfall (Proverbs 22:8). Geographical and Archaeological Notes Bezek is commonly identified with modern Khirbet Ibzik, northeast of Shechem, or with Khirbet al-Bezzek in the Judah-Benjamin border region. Its spacious valleys offered a mustering ground for chariot forces, explaining Adoni-Bezek’s ability to subjugate surrounding kings. Excavations reveal Late Bronze and Early Iron Age occupation layers, aligning with the biblical timeline. Summary Adoni-Bezek’s brief appearance crystallizes the principles of divine recompense, the certainty of God’s promise to His covenant people, and the ethical warnings that permeate the early chapters of Judges. His downfall stands as an enduring reminder that rulers and nations alike are accountable to the righteous Judge of all the earth. Forms and Transliterations בֶ֔זֶק בֶ֗זֶק בֶ֙זֶק֙ בזק ḇe·zeq ḇezeq vezekLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 1:5 HEB: אֶת־ אֲדֹנִ֥י בֶ֙זֶק֙ בְּבֶ֔זֶק וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ NAS: They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek KJV: And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: INT: found Adoni-bezek Bezek and fought Judges 1:6 Judges 1:7 3 Occurrences |
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