Adonizedek

Adonizedek (meaning lord of justice or my lord is righteous) was the Amorite king of Jerusalem at the time of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. When word reached him that Joshua had destroyed Ai and that Gibeon had made a separate peace with Israel, Adonizedek organized a coalition of five southern kings — including the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon — to punish Gibeon and resist the Israelite advance (Joshua 10:1–5). Gibeon appealed to Joshua, who marched through the night from Gilgal to relieve the city.

In the ensuing battle the LORD threw the Amorite forces into confusion, rained down great hailstones on them, and famously caused the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon while Israel pressed its victory (Joshua 10:12–14). The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah; Joshua commanded them brought out, defeated, executed, and their bodies hung on five trees until evening, then buried in the cave (Joshua 10:26–27). Adonizedek's defeat broke the southern Amorite coalition and opened the Shephelah and hill country to continued Israelite conquest.