Lives of Scripture

Adoni-zedek, the Amorite king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had destroyed Ai and that the Gibeonites had made a treaty of peace with Israel, and it struck fear into him (Joshua 10:1-2). He rallied four fellow kings -- of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon -- to join him in attacking Gibeon for defecting to Israel's side (10:3-5). Gibeon appealed to Joshua, who marched his army all night from Gilgal and routed the coalition; the LORD threw the enemy into confusion and sent a hailstorm that killed more of them than Israel's swords did, while the sun stood still at Joshua's command so Israel could finish the victory in daylight (10:9-14). Adoni-zedek and his four allies fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua had the cave sealed with stones until the battle was finished, then brought the five kings out, had his army commanders set their feet on the kings' necks as a sign of total defeat, and put the kings to death himself, hanging their bodies on trees until evening before they were sealed back in the cave (10:16-27). Adoni-zedek's downfall is presented as proof that the LORD Himself was fighting for Israel, not merely Israel's own military strength.