ADONI-BEZEK

(A·doʹni-beʹzek) [Lord of Bezek].

A powerful ruler who, prior to the Israelite attack at Bezek, had humbled 70 pagan kings by cutting off their thumbs and great toes.

A similar practice was employed at one time by the ancient Athenians, who decreed that prisoners of war should lose their thumbs. Thereafter they could row but were unfit to handle a sword or spear. Soon after Joshua’s death the combined forces of Judah and Simeon clashed with 10,000 troops of the Canaanites and Perizzites at Bezek, causing Adoni-bezek to flee from the defeat. Upon being captured, his thumbs and great toes were also severed, at which time he declared: “Just the way I have done, so God has repaid me.” He was transported to Jerusalem, where he died.​—Jg 1:4-7.