Joshua 10:1
in Joshua 10Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it (as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king), and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
KJV
Now it came to pass, when Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
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This verse in Joshua 10
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Adoni-zedec - i. e “Lord of righteousness” (compare Melchizedek, “King of righteousness”); probably an official title of the Jebusite kings. Jerusalem - i. e. “foundation of peace,” compare Gen 14:18. The city belonged to the inheritance of Benjamin Jos 18:28, but was on the very edge of the territory of Judah Jos 15:
This site's exposition
Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard
on Joshua 10:1-2
Jerusalem is named for the first time, after Genesis 14:18 called the place Salem. Albert Barnes sets its king’s name, Adoni-zedek, lord of righteousness, beside Melchizedek, king of righteousness, and reads it as a title of the Jebusite kings. A treaty moves the coalition, since Gibeon was “a great city”.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
There is no doubt that when a human soul associates itself with the Word of God, it is immediately going to have enemies, and that those it once considered friends will be changed into adversaries. The soul should not only expect to suffer this from humans, but it should also know that such will likewise be forthcoming from opposing powers and spiritual iniquities.
The Reformation1 voice
This is sufficiently expressed by the plural number of the verb; for it is said, When Adoni-zedek had heard -- they feared greatly. From this it appears that they were all of the same mind, but that while some of them held back from fear, he who possessed greater authority, and was nearer the danger, invited the four others to arms.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem,.... So called, perhaps by anticipation, Jerusalem, since it seems to have had this name given it by the Israelites, when they had got possession of it: and Jerusalem signifies "the possession of Salem" (w), and in memory of this its ancient name, the Jews say (x), they do not put "jod" in Jerusalem between "lamed" and "mem"; though some make the signification of it, "they shall see peace" (y); and others, nearer to its old name, and with respect to it, "fear Salem", O ye enemies.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Adoni-zedek--"lord of righteousness"--nearly synonymous with Melchizedek, "king of righteousness." These names were common titles of the Jebusite kings. Jerusalem--The original name, "Salem" (Ge 14:18;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Adoni-zedec - This name signifies the Lord of justice or righteousness; and it has been conjectured that the Canaanitish kings assumed this name in imitation of that of the ancient patriarchal king of this city, Melchizedek, whose name signifies king of righteousness, or my righteous king: a supposition that is not improbable, when the celebrity of Melchizedek is considered. Jerusalem - ירושלם Yerushalam. This word has been variously explained; if it be compounded of שלם shalam, peace, perfection, etc., and ראה raah, he saw, it may signify the vision of peace - or, he shall see peace or perfection.
The words behind it
28 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִי֩ | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ | khishmoa' | when heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| אֲדֹֽנִי־ | ʾadoni- | Adoni- | H139 → | 4 times |
| צֶ֜דֶק | tzedek | Zedek | H139 → | 4 times |
| מֶ֣לֶךְ | melekh | [the] king of | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לָכַ֨ד | lakhad | he had captured | H3920 → | 121 times |
| יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ | yehoshua' | Joshua | H3091 → | 218 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָעַי֮ | haai | <the> Ai | H5857 → | 40 times |
| וַיַּחֲרִימָהּ֒ | vaiyacharimah | and he had totally destroyed it | H2763 → | 52 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עָשָׂ֤ה | ʾasah | he had done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לִֽירִיחוֹ֙ | liricho | to Jericho | H3405 → | 57 times |
| וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּ | ulemalkah | and to king its | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| כֵּן־ | ken- | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| עָשָׂ֥ה | ʾasah | he had done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| לָעַ֖י | laai | to <the> Ai | H5857 → | 40 times |
| וּלְמַלְכָּ֑הּ | ulemalkah | and to king its | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| וְכִ֨י | vekhi | and that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הִשְׁלִ֜ימוּ | hishlimu | they had made peace | H7999 → | 116 times |
| יֹשְׁבֵ֤י | yoshevei | [the] inhabitants of | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| גִבְעוֹן֙ | givon | Gibeon | H1391 → | 38 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ | vaiyihyu | and they were | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃ | bekirbam | in midst their | H7130 → | 227 times |
וַיְהִי֩and it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
כִשְׁמֹ֨עַwhen heard
khishmoa'H8085 →1159 times
אֲדֹֽנִי־Adoni-
ʾadoni-H139 →4 times
צֶ֜דֶקZedek
tzedekH139 →4 times
מֶ֣לֶךְ[the] king of
melekhH4428 →2525 times
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םJerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
לָכַ֨דhe had captured
lakhadH3920 →121 times
יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַJoshua
yehoshua'H3091 →218 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָעַי֮<the> Ai
haaiH5857 →40 times
וַיַּחֲרִימָהּ֒and he had totally destroyed it
vaiyacharimahH2763 →52 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
עָשָׂ֤הhe had done
ʾasahH6213 →2628 times
לִֽירִיחוֹ֙to Jericho
lirichoH3405 →57 times
וּלְמַלְכָּ֔הּand to king its
ulemalkahH4428 →2525 times
כֵּן־so
ken-H3651 →771 times
עָשָׂ֥הhe had done
ʾasahH6213 →2628 times
לָעַ֖יto <the> Ai
laaiH5857 →40 times
וּלְמַלְכָּ֑הּand to king its
ulemalkahH4428 →2525 times
וְכִ֨יand that
vekhiH3588 →4482 times
הִשְׁלִ֜ימוּthey had made peace
hishlimuH7999 →116 times
יֹשְׁבֵ֤י[the] inhabitants of
yosheveiH3427 →1079 times
גִבְעוֹן֙Gibeon
givonH1391 →38 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וַיִּֽהְי֖וּand they were
vaiyihyuH1961 →3559 times
בְּקִרְבָּֽם׃in midst their
bekirbamH7130 →227 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 14:18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
it leads to
- Hebrews 6:20
where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Hebrews 5:6
And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Hebrews 5:10
and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
- Psalms 76:2
His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.
- Hebrews 6:20
Through
Hebrews 7:1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
it leads to
- Genesis 14:18–20
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
- Psalms 57:2
I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
- Micah 6:6
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
- Genesis 14:18–20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Joshua
Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonConquestJoshuaMoses' minister and successor, one of the two faithful spies; he led Israel across Jordan, around Jericho, and through the conques…
- PlaceJordan valleyJerichoThe city of palms whose walls fell flat at the seventh trumpet-circuit; Rahab's city, later rebuilt under a curse, and the road do…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 11.2.