ADONI-BEZEK (perhaps a corrupted form of Adoni-zedek , Joshua 10:1-27 ). A king of Bezek (a different place from that mentioned in 1 Samuel 11:8 ), who was defeated by Simeon and Judah. The mutilation inflicted upon him the cutting off of the thumbs and great toes was in order to render him harmless, while retaining him as a trophy; but he died on reaching Jerusalem. Adoni-bezek boasted of having mutilated seventy kings in a similar manner. The passage ( Judges 1:5-7 ) which speaks of Adoni-bezek does not appear to be intact; the original form probably gave more details.

W. O. E. Oesterley.