### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **ʼĂdônîy-Bezeq**, represented by `{{H137}}`, identifies a specific Canaanitish king whose name means **lord of Bezek**. This name is not a general term but a proper noun, appearing only **3 times** in **3 unique verses** in the Bible. All occurrences are contained within a single, brief narrative that chronicles his rise and fall.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The biblical account introduces `{{H137}}` when the Israelites find him in Bezek and fight against him [[Judges 1:5]]. After the battle, Adonibezek flees, but he is pursued, caught, and subjected to a specific punishment: his thumbs and great toes are cut off [[Judges 1:6]]. In his moment of capture, Adonibezek confesses that he had done the exact same thing to seventy other kings, who were forced to gather food under his table. He acknowledges his fate as just, stating, "as I have done, so God hath requited me" [[Judges 1:7]]. Following this, he is brought to Jerusalem, where he dies.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words illuminate the key actions in the narrative of Adonibezek:
* `{{H5127}}` **nûwç** (to flit, i.e. vanish away): This word describes Adonibezek's attempt to **flee** after his defeat [[Judges 1:6]]. It is often used to depict enemies who are scattered or put to flight by God's power [[Psalms 68:1]].
* `{{H270}}` **ʼâchaz** (to seize): After being pursued, Adonibezek was **caught**. This primitive root conveys the idea of seizing or taking hold, whether it is capturing an enemy, taking possession of land, or being held by God's hand [[Genesis 47:27]].
* `{{H7112}}` **qâtsats** (to chop off): This verb is central to the punishment inflicted upon Adonibezek, whose thumbs and toes were **cut off** [[Judges 1:6]]. The same word is used to describe his own cruelty toward other kings [[Judges 1:7]].
* `{{H7999}}` **shâlam** (to reciprocate): Adonibezek uses this word when he admits that God has **requited** him for his actions [[Judges 1:7]]. The root carries a broad meaning of making something complete, including making restitution or rendering a reward or recompense.
### Theological Significance
The story of `{{H137}}` carries significant narrative weight, illustrating several key themes:
* **Divine Retribution:** The account is a stark example of retributive justice. The punishment Adonibezek receives directly mirrors the brutal acts he committed against seventy other kings, a fact he himself confesses.
* **The Fall of a Tyrant:** As a powerful king who subjugated others, Adonibezek’s capture and mutilation symbolize the humbling of the arrogant and the downfall of oppressive powers.
* **Sovereign Justice:** Notably, it is a Canaanitish king who verbalizes the story’s moral. His declaration, "so God hath requited me," serves as a powerful testimony from an enemy to the sovereign justice of God, who repays evil with a fitting punishment [[Judges 1:7]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H137}}` **ʼĂdônîy-Bezeq** is the name of a specific historical figure whose story serves as a concise and powerful parable. Though his name appears only three times, his narrative provides a vivid illustration of the biblical principle of retributive justice, where the punishment fits the crime. His life and death demonstrate that no earthly power is above the judgment of God, who repays individuals according to their deeds.
TRV