Adonizedek
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Josh. 10:1, 27) (lord of righteousness) — a Canaanite king in Jerusalem. Hearing what Joshua had done to the cities of Jericho and Ai, he persuaded four other kings to join him and attack Gibeon. Joshua and his army hastened to the rescue and, striking them, put the armies of the allied kings to flight. The Lord Himself visibly helped Israel in this matter. During the enemy’s flight, great stones (hail) fell from heaven, by which more of them perished than by the sword of Israel.
This victory was accompanied by a special sign. During the pursuit of the enemy the day was declining toward evening, and Joshua said in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon” (Josh. 10:12). And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. This miraculous halting of the motion of sun and moon over the valley of Ajalon bore visible witness before all that the Lord was present with Israel, just as the supernatural total eclipse of the sun at the crucifixion of the Savior visibly testified that the King, Lord, and Master of all creation was suffering.