Adoni-zedec

1 definition found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Adoni-zedec
     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.