Adoni-zedec
    lord of justice or righteousness, was king in Jerusalem at the
    time when the Israelites invaded Palestine (Josh. 10:1,3). He
    formed a confederacy with the other Canaanitish kings against
    the Israelites, but was utterly routed by Joshua when he was
    engaged in besieging the Gibeonites. The history of this victory
    and of the treatment of the five confederated kings is recorded
    in Josh. 10:1-27. (Comp. Deut. 21:23). Among the Tell Amarna
    tablets (see EGYPT) are some very interesting letters
    from Adoni-zedec to the King of Egypt. These illustrate in a
    very remarkable manner the history recorded in Josh. 10, and
    indeed throw light on the wars of conquest generally, so that
    they may be read as a kind of commentary on the book of Joshua.
    Here the conquering career of the Abiri (i.e., Hebrews) is
    graphically described: "Behold, I say that the land of the king
    my lord is ruined", "The wars are mighty against me", "The
    Hebrew chiefs plunder all the king's lands", "Behold, I the
    chief of the Amorites am breaking to pieces." Then he implores
    the king of Egypt to send soldiers to help him, directing that
    the army should come by sea to Ascalon or Gaza, and thence march
    to Wru-sa-lim (Jerusalem) by the valley of Elah.