Adoni-Zedek

Adoni-zedek was the Amorite king of Jerusalem during the Israelite conquest under Joshua. When he learned that Joshua had destroyed Ai as completely as Jericho, and that Gibeon had made peace with Israel, he organized a coalition of four other Amorite kings to punish Gibeon (Josh 10:1-4).

The Coalition and Its Defeat

Adoni-zedek sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon. The five kings and their armies encamped against Gibeon and made war against it (Josh 10:3-5). Gibeon appealed to Joshua, and Yahweh assured Joshua that the enemies were already delivered into his hand (Josh 10:6-8). Joshua came upon the coalition suddenly after an all-night march from Gilgal. Yahweh threw them into confusion and struck them at Gibeon; as they fled, Yahweh cast down great hailstones that killed more of the enemy than the sword had (Josh 10:9-11).

The Long Day

In the course of the battle Joshua called on the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day. The record notes that there was no day like it before or after — Yahweh listened to the voice of a man, for Yahweh fought for Israel (Josh 10:12-14).

Capture and Execution

The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua sealed the cave, pressed the pursuit, and afterward brought the kings out. He had the chiefs of his fighting men place their feet on the necks of the kings and spoke courage into them: "for thus will Yahweh do to all your⁺ enemies against whom you⁺ fight" (Josh 10:24-25). Joshua then struck the five kings, put them to death, and hanged them on five trees until evening. At sunset they were taken down and thrown back into the cave, which was sealed with great stones (Josh 10:26-27).