Bible Dictionary
Adonibezek
Adonibezek was the king of Bezek who had cruelly mutilated seventy kings. After Judah and Simeon defeated him, he suffered the same punishment and died at Jerusalem.
Definition
Adonibezek was the king or lord of Bezek. He had subdued seventy kings and cruelly mutilated them by cutting off their thumbs and great toes.
Biblical Usage
Judah and Simeon defeated and captured him. He suffered the same mutilation and was brought to Jerusalem, where he died; he acknowledged that God had requited his cruelty.
Historical Background
Adonibezek is distinct from Adoni-zedek, despite the similarity of their names. Bezek was a Canaanite town in southern Palestine.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lord of Bezek, a Canaanitish king who, having subdued seventy of the chiefs that were around him, made an attack against the armies of Judah and Simeon, but was defeated and brought as a captive to Jerusalem, where his thumbs and great toes were cut off. He confessed that God had requited him for his like cruelty to the seventy kings whom he had subdued (Judg. 1:4-7; comp. 1 Sam. 15:33).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(lord of Bezek), king of Bezek, a city of the Canaanites. [Bezek] This chieftain was vanquished by the tribe of Judah, (Judges 1:3-7) who cut off his thumbs and great toes, and brought him prisoner to Jerusalem, where he died. He confessed that he had inflicted the same cruelty upon 70 petty kings whom he had conquered. (B.C. 1425).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-do-ni-be'-zek ('adhonibhezeq "lord of Bezek"): Lord of a town, Bezek, in southern Palestine, whom the tribes of Judah and Simeon overthrew. Adonibezek fled when his men were defeated, but was captured, and was punished for his cruelty in cutting off the thumbs and great toes of seventy kings by a similar mutilation. Being brought to Jerusalem, he died there (Jud 1:5-7). This not to be confused with Adonizedek, as in the Septuagint. This is quite another name.</p>