Adonizedek

Adonizedek (Hebrew: אֲדֹנִי־צֶ֫דֶק‎ Ăḏōnî-ṣeḏeq, "Lord of righteousness") was, according to the Book of Joshua, king of Jerusalem at the time of the Israelite invasion of Canaan (Joshua 10:1-3). His name means "my lord is righteousness" (or "my lord is Zedeq") in Hebrew.

Adonizedek led a coalition of five of the neighboring Amorite rulers (Hoham, king of Hebron; Piram, king of Jarmuth; Japhia, king of Lachish; and Debir, king of Eglon) in resisting the invasion, but the allies were defeated at Gibeon, and suffered at Beth-horon, not only from their pursuers, but also from a great hail storm. The five allied kings took refuge in a cave at Makkedah and were imprisoned there until after the battle, when Joshua commanded that they be brought before him; whereupon they were brought out, humiliated, and put to death.

According to the Midrash, the name Adoni-zedek is translated as "Master of Zedek" — that is, "of Jerusalem," the city of righteousness (Genesis Rabbah xliii. 6).

Identification with Abdi-Heba

The author of the article for the Easton's Bible Dictionary states that amongst the Amarna letters are some letters from Adonizedek to the Pharaoh of Egypt, which add to the history recorded in Josh. 10. However, the only king of Jerusalem mentioned in this archive is one `Abdi-Heba (whose name translates as "servant of Heba"), who is said to have succeeded Lab'ayu. Six of his letters to the king of Egypt (EA 285-290) are included in the Amarna letters, and he is mentioned in a seventh (EA 280). Perhaps the Dictionary author saw how `Abdi-Heba complained of the raids by the Habiru, who at the time were unquestioningly identified with the Hebrews, and forced the identification.

References

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