Adoni-Zedek
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Adoni-zedek was a king of Jerusalem who formed a coalition with four other Canaanite rulers to resist the Israelite advance under Joshua, but was defeated, captured, and executed.
What is the meaning of Adoni-Zedek in the Bible?
Adoni-zedek was a king of Jerusalem who formed a coalition with four other Canaanite rulers to resist the Israelite advance under Joshua, but was defeated, captured, and executed.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Adoni-zedek clarifies the political landscape of Canaan during the conquest, showing that the Israelites faced organized military alliances rather than isolated city-states, and his name's similarity to Melchizedek underscores the continuity of Jerusalem's royal lineage across different biblical eras.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.