Topical Encyclopedia Ado'ni-ze'dek, 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. Ado'ni-ze'dek'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 Ado'ni-ze'dek ruled Jerusalem, a city that was strategically important due to its location in the central hill country of Canaan. At this time, Jerusalem was a Jebusite city, and its king was one of the many Canaanite rulers who opposed the Israelite incursion into the land. The political landscape of Canaan was characterized by a collection of city-states, each with its own king, often forming alliances to strengthen their positions against common threats. Biblical Account The primary account of Ado'ni-ze'dek is found in Joshua 10. Upon hearing of Joshua's victories at Jericho and Ai, and the peace treaty made with the Gibeonites, Ado'ni-ze'dek became alarmed. Gibeon was a significant city, and its alliance with Israel posed a direct threat to the surrounding Canaanite kingdoms. In response, Ado'ni-ze'dek formed a coalition with four other Amorite kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. Joshua 10:3-5 states: "So 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, 'Come up and help me. Let us attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.' Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces, advanced with all their armies, besieged Gibeon, and fought against it." The Battle and Its Aftermath In response to the Gibeonites' plea for help, Joshua led the Israelite army on an all-night march from Gilgal to Gibeon. The Lord assured Joshua of victory, and the Israelites launched a surprise attack on the Amorite coalition. The biblical narrative highlights the miraculous intervention of God in the battle, including the famous account of the sun standing still to allow the Israelites more time to achieve victory. Joshua 10:12-14 records this event: "On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: 'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel." Following their defeat, the five kings, including Ado'ni-ze'dek, fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered the cave to be sealed with large stones and guarded. Later, the kings were brought out, humiliated, and executed, demonstrating the complete victory of Israel over the coalition. Legacy Ado'ni-ze'dek's attempt to resist the Israelites ultimately failed, and his defeat marked a significant turning point in the conquest of Canaan. His account serves as a testament to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel and the divine assistance provided to Joshua and his people. The account of Ado'ni-ze'dek underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and the futility of opposing His divine plan. Concordance Ado'ni-ze'dek (2 Occurrences)Joshua 10:1 Joshua 10:3 Thesaurus Ado'ni-ze'dek (2 Occurrences)Ado'ni-ze'dek. Adoni-zedek, Ado'ni-ze'dek. Adopt . Multi-Version Concordance Ado'ni-ze'dek (2 Occurrences). Joshua 10:1 Now it came ... /a/ado'ni-ze'dek.htm - 7k Adoni-zedek (4 Occurrences) Adopt (4 Occurrences) Resources Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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