John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem , etc.] So called, perhaps by anticipation, Jerusalem, since it seems to have had this name given it by the Israelites, when they had got possession of it: and Jerusalem signifies “the possession of Salem” f155 , and in memory of this its ancient name, the Jews say f156 , they do not put “jod” in Jerusalem between “lamed” and “mem”; though some make the signification of it, “they shall see peace” f157 ; and others, nearer to its old name, and with respect to it, “fear Salem”, O ye enemies. Now the king of this place had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it ; which, being nearer to him than Jericho, the more alarmed him: as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king ; burnt the one, and slew the other; and this terrified him, lest he and his city should undergo the same fate: and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them ; which as it weakened the interest of the kings of Canaan, might set an example to other places to do the like. Abarbinel suggests, that the Gibeonites making peace with Israel secretly, without the knowledge of their king, as he supposes, made Adonizedek fearful, lest his subjects should do the like; the Jewish chronologers say f158 , that these three acts respecting Jericho, Ai, and Gibeon, were all finished within three months.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - When sinners leave the service of Satan and the friendship of the world, that they make peace with God and join Israel, they must no marvel if the world hate them, if their former friends become foes. By such methods Satan discourages many who are convinced of their danger and almost persuaded to be Christians, but fear the cross. These thing should quicken us to apply to God for protection, help, an deliverance.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כשׁמע8085 אדני צדק139 מלך4428 ירושׁלם3389 כי3588 לכד3920 יהושׁע3091 את853 העי5857 ויחרימה2763 כאשׁר834 עשׂה6213 ליריחו3405 ולמלכה4428 כן3651 עשׂה6213 לעי5857 ולמלכה4428 וכי3588 השׁלימו7999 ישׁבי3427 גבעון1391 את854 ישׂראל3478 ויהיו1961 בקרבם׃7130
