Judges 1:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 1:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
Judges 1:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they found Adonibezek in Bezek, etc.] Who was king of, the place, and whose name signifies lord of Bezek; not that they took him there, for he is afterwards said to make his escape from thence, but here he was when they came against that city, and into which they rushed upon him, and fell upon him as follows: and they fought against him; entering the city with their forces: and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites: that were in it, or about it, even to the number of ten thousand, as before related, (<070104>Judges 1:4).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“ADONI-BEZEK JUSTLY REQUITED. (Jdg. 1:4-21) Bezek--This place lay within the domain of Judah, about twelve miles south of Jerusalem. found Adoni-bezek--that is, "lord of Bezek"--he was "found," that is, surprised and routed in a pitched battle, whence he fled; but being taken prisoner, he was treated with a severity unusual among the Israelites, for they "cut off his thumbs and great toes." Barbarities of various kinds were commonly practised on prisoners of war in ancient times, and the object of this particular mutilation of the hands and feet was to disable them for military service ever after. The infliction of such a horrid cruelty on this Canaanite chief would have been a foul stain on…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Adoni - bezek - The lord or king of Bezek; as his name signifies. In Bezek - Whither he fled when he lost the field. Against him - That is, against the city wherein he had encamped himself, and the rest of his army. Judges 1:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification