And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

JUDGES 1:5KJV
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Judges 1:5 (KJV)

What does Judges 1:5 mean?

Judges 1:5 describes how the Israelites encountered Adonibezek in the city of Bezek, fought against him, and killed both the Canaanites and the Perizzites who were there. The verse highlights a specific battle early in Israel’s conquest of Canaan, showing their military actions against local rulers and peoples.

This verse is part of a narrative where the tribes of Judah and Simeon are working together to take possession of the land promised to them. Adonibezek was a local king, and Bezek was his city. The mention of the Canaanites and Perizzites points to the diverse groups living in the area, and the verse sets up the story of what happens to Adonibezek after his defeat.

The Hebrew behind Judges 1:5

  • "found" (מָצָא, matsa): This word often means to come upon or discover, emphasizing that the Israelites actively located Adonibezek rather than encountering him by chance.
  • "fought" (לָחַם, lacham): This verb means to engage in battle, highlighting that this was an intentional and organized conflict.
  • "slew" (נָכָה, nakah): This word can mean to strike or kill, and in this context, it shows that the Israelites inflicted a decisive defeat on the Canaanites and Perizzites.

Why Judges 1:5 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites’ conquest involved direct conflict with established rulers and multiple peoples, not just a single group.
  • The mention of Adonibezek by name sets up the following verses, which detail his fate and add a personal dimension to the conquest narrative.
  • Understanding the specific peoples involved (Canaanites and Perizzites) helps readers see the complexity of the land’s population and the challenges Israel faced.

Where else these words appear

“Adonibezek” Hebrew H137 · used in 3 verses

  • Judges 1:6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
  • Judges 1:7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

“Bezek” Hebrew H966 · used in 3 verses

  • Judges 1:4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
  • 1 Samuel 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

“Perizzites” Hebrew H6522 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
  • Exodus 34:11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
  • Joshua 17:15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

“Canaanites” Hebrew H3669 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
  • Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
  • Judges 1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.