Bible Dictionary
Adoni-zedec
Adoni-zedek was the Amorite king of Jerusalem who formed a coalition against Joshua. He was defeated and executed with the other allied kings.
Definition
Adoni-zedek was the Amorite king of Jerusalem when Israel invaded the land. He formed a confederacy with other Canaanite kings against Israel and was defeated by Joshua.
Biblical Usage
He appears in Joshua 10 as the leader of the coalition that besieged Gibeon. After the defeat, he and the other kings were captured, executed, and buried at Makkedah.
Historical Background
Letters attributed to Adoni-zedek among the Tell Amarna tablets describe warfare involving Jerusalem and appeals for help from the king of Egypt.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lord of justice or righteousness, was king in Jerusalem at the time when the Israelites invaded Palestine (Josh. 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 Josh. 10:1-27. (Comp. Deut. 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 Josh. 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.