Adoni-zedek

Biblical Account

Adoni-zedek is named only in Joshua 10. He was the king of Jerusalem. When he heard that Joshua had destroyed Jericho and Ai and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, he was greatly afraid (Joshua 10:1-2).

He sent messengers to four kings, urging them to join him in attacking Gibeon. The four were Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon. The text calls them "the five kings of the Amorites" (Joshua 10:3-5). When the Gibeonites appealed for help, Joshua marched up from Gilgal all night and took the coalition by surprise. The text records that God sent down great hailstones, so that more died from the hail than by the sword. The account goes on to describe how Joshua cried out during the battle, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10:12-14).

The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. After the battle, Joshua had them brought out. He had the Israelite commanders put their feet on the kings' necks, and then he put the kings to death and hanged them on five trees until evening. At sunset the bodies were taken down and thrown into the cave, and its mouth was sealed with large stones (Joshua 10:16-27). The list of conquered kings in Joshua 12:10 also includes "the king of Jerusalem," though his name is not given.

Significance Within the Bible

The name Adoni-zedek is commonly interpreted as "my lord is righteous" or "lord of righteousness." Because the name is similar in structure to that of Melchizedek ("king of righteousness"), who is likewise presented as king of Jerusalem (Salem), the two are often mentioned together (Genesis 14:18).

Even after the king's death, the city of Jerusalem did not come into Israel's hands. The Jebusites continued to live there (Joshua 15:63), and the city was not captured until the time of David (2 Samuel 5:6-9). The New Testament does not mention Adoni-zedek directly.

Interpretation and Issues

• Name and identification: His name resembles that of Adoni-bezek in Judges 1:5-7, and some scholars therefore regard the two as the same person. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) is reported to read Adoni-bezek in Joshua 10. Most traditional interpretations, however, regard them as different individuals.
• Meaning of "zedek": Both Melchizedek and Adoni-zedek contain the element "zedek" (righteousness). Some theories connect this element to a title borne by successive kings of Jerusalem or to the name of a local deity, but none of these theories has been established.
• The sun standing still: Interpreters differ on how to understand this account, which is read together with the story of Adoni-zedek. Some view it as a literal miracle, while others regard it as poetic language. The text states that it was recorded in "the book of Jasher."
• Ethics of the conquest: How the accounts of the execution of the Canaanite kings and of their utter destruction should be read is explained differently depending on denomination and theological position. These accounts are generally treated within the broader Old Testament framework of God's judgment and the conquest of Canaan.
• Stories about Adoni-zedek's character or life that circulate outside the biblical text have no basis in Scripture.

In the Korean Church

Adoni-zedek is rarely the central figure of a sermon. When preachers treat Joshua's battle at Gibeon and the "Sun, stand thou still" passage, he is usually introduced as the leader of the Canaanite coalition that opposed Israel. In such sermons, the emphasis falls on Joshua's prayer and God's intervention. In Sunday school as well, he appears as a background figure in the story of this battle.