Adoni-zedec

Adoni-zedec (meaning lord of justice or lord of righteousness) was the Amorite king of Jerusalem at the time of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. When the news of Israel's treaty with Gibeon reached him, he formed a coalition of five Amorite kings — drawing in the rulers of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon — to punish Gibeon for its defection and to check Israel's advance. This coalition attacked Gibeon, prompting Joshua to mount a rapid night march from Gilgal in fulfillment of his alliance obligations.

The resulting battle at Gibeon was one of the most dramatic engagements of the conquest: Joshua's forces routed the coalition, and the pursuit was prolonged by a hailstorm that killed more of the enemy than the sword, and by the miraculous extension of daylight described in Joshua 10:12–14. Adoni-zedec and the four allied kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah, where they were captured, executed, and hung on trees until evening in accordance with the law of Deuteronomy 21:23. His defeat opened central and southern Canaan to Israelite control.