1
Adoni-Zedek was the king of Jerusalem. He heard that Joshua had taken Ai. He found out that the city had been set apart to the Lord in a special way to be destroyed. He heard that Joshua had done to Ai and its king the same thing he had done to Jericho and its king. Adoni-Zedek heard that the people of Gibeon had made a peace treaty with Israel. He also found out that they were living among the people of Israel.
📍 Jerusalem
People
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Greek: Ἱεροσολυμίτης (Hierosolymítēs)
a Hierosolymite, i.e. inhabitant of Hierosolyma
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Hebrew: ʻAy
Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: πόλις (pólis)
a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)
Hebrew: qiryâʼ
{building; a city}
Hebrew: hârâh
to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively)
Greek: τακτός (taktós)
arranged, i.e. appointed or stated
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ῥαββονί (rhabboní)
God
Hebrew: ʼâdôwn
sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Greek: πάροδος (párodos)
a by-road, i.e. (actively) a route
Hebrew: ʼôrach
a road
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Hebrew: ʻAy
Ai, Aja or Ajath, a place in Palestine
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: dêk
this
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: Ἱεριχώ (Hierichṓ)
Jericho, a place in Palestine
Hebrew: Yᵉrîychôw
Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Hebrew: Gibʻôwn
Gibon, a place in Palestine
Hebrew: ʼechâd
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
Hebrew: shᵉlâm
prosperity
Greek: Ἰσραήλ (Israḗl)
Israel (i.e. Jisrael), the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: Yisrâʼêl
Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: δή (dḗ)
a particle of emphasis or explicitness; now, then, etc.
Hebrew: ʼôw
desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: μέσος (mésos)
middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun)
Hebrew: bêyn
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: δῆμος (dēmos)
the public (as bound together socially)
Hebrew: ʻam
{a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
Hebrew: Yisrᵉʼêlîy
a Jisreelite or descendant of Jisrael
Verse Explanation
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured Ai and completely destroyed it, just as he had done with Jericho. He also learned that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were now living among them. This news frightened him because Gibeon was a strong city, and its alliance with Israel threatened the power of the surrounding kingdoms.
History
Jerusalem was already an important Canaanite city during the time of Joshua, although it was not yet controlled by Israel.