MPV Commentary

1. Adoni-zedek, meaning "lord of righteousness," was a title shared by the Jebusite kings, including Melchizedek, who is also known as "king of righteousness." These names were common among the rulers of this region.

The city of Jerusalem originally bore the name Salem (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 76:2), which means "a peaceful possession" or "a vision of peace." This name may have been inspired by the symbolic scene on Mount Moriah, where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:14). The city's location is significant, as it was built near this sacred site.

The inhabitants of Gibeon had made a treaty with Israel and were living among them as allies. They acknowledged Israel's supremacy and enjoyed friendly relations with the people.

2. The other kings in the region were greatly intimidated by Israel's rapid conquests. The fact that Gibeon, a large and powerful city, had submitted to Israel's rule only added to their fear.

Gibeon was considered one of the royal cities, despite being a republic (Joshua 9:3). Its size and fortifications made it an important center for the local leaders.

3-4. Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, sent out a call to his neighboring kings, saying, "Come and help me defeat Gibeon." This coalition was formed to punish Gibeon for its betrayal and to prevent Israel from advancing further into their territory. The king of Jerusalem took the lead in this alliance because his city was most vulnerable to attack, being only six miles from Gibeon.

5. The five kings who joined Adoni-zedek's coalition were all Amorites, a powerful and warlike tribe that had settled in Moab but also controlled territory southwest of the Jordan River. Their name became associated with this region (2 Samuel 21:2), although other cities, like Hebron, were inhabited by different tribes (Joshua 11:19).