Bible Dictionaries
Adoni-Zedek

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ad' oh ni-zee dehk) Personal name meaning, “the Lord is righteous” or “the god Zedek is righteous.” King of Jerusalem who gathered coalition of Canaanite kings to fight Gibeon after Joshua made a peace treaty with Gibeon (Joshua 10:1 ). Joshua marched to Gibeon's aid and defeated the coalition. Joshua made a public example of the kings before executing them (Joshua 10:22-26 ). He exposed their bodies on trees, a further sign of humiliation, since it postponed burial and a way to celebrate victory. Joshua carefully obeyed the law by taking them from the trees before nightfall (Deuteronomy 21:23 ).