[ Back ] [ HOME ] [ Up ] [ Next ]

sermons by IVOR POWELL

ADONI-BEZEK . . . the toe and thumb specialist

{Judges I : 5-7)

He was a foul unmitigated scoundrel, a blot on the

society of his day, and a shameful law unto himself.

His weird eccentricities were widely known, and probably

many people said he was mentally unbalanced. Yet

his evil deeds continued unchecked, and his name became

increasingly infamous throughout the land. He loved to

dethrone and mutilate kings. Then with grim delight he

watched and laughed as his unfortunate captives

"gleaned" at his table.

A Royal Collection

To all but a semi-maniac, the sights in the palace dining

room would have been nauseating. Seventy kings crouched

against the walls hopefully watching a gluttonous monarch.

The presence of the guards was a guarantee against in-

surrection, for their long whips were ready to administer

instant punishment to any man who felt disposed to rebel

against his treatment. Hungry eyes furtively watched the

table, and as the detestable king threw pieces of food to

the floor, the starving men fought like jackals for the por-

tions, and all the while the mocking laughter of the

watching scoundrel echoed through the room. Even the

guards enjoyed the fun as the desperate men rolled over

each other in the mad scramble for food. Adoni-bezek,

the Canaanite king, was able to say, "Threescore and ten

kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off,

gleaned their meat under my table." Without thumbs,

their hands had become claws; and without their big toes,

their sense of balance had been impaired. To watch these

starving men desperately struggling for survival was highly

amusing, and the chief among the sordid onlookers was

Adoni-bezek himself.

A Rebuking Conscience

It was almost inconceivable that he should ever feel

concerned about the shamefulness of his conduct. His

behaviour suggested that he had never heard of God, and

yet this was not so. Archaeological discoveries have

proved that the Canaanites spoke a language similar to

that in use among the Hebrews, and it is therefore most

likely that the people of the land were acquainted with the

earliest forms of religion. We do not know the degree

of Adoni-bezek's knowledge, but it is truly significant

that from his own lips came the confession that God had

watched the revolting displays in the palace. Such a

revelation could hardly have taken place in a moment.

The fires of conscience had not been completely extin-

guished; they had slowly but unmistakably smouldered in

his mind. Yet during all the years of savage enjoyment,

this arrogant man had rudely thrust aside any attempt

of God's Spirit to lead him into nobler avenues of life and

service. He was fascinated by his cruel hobby; he revelled

in the sense of his own indisputable superiority, and

neither religion nor ethics should rob him of this source

of pleasure. Nevertheless the pin-pricks of conscience

made themselves felt, and when grim retribution eventually

overtook the guilty man, his first words spoke of God.

A Remarkable Confession

"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. And they

found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, and they fought against

him . . . But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after

him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great

toes. And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings

having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gleaned

their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath

requited me." Then he discovered that the opportunity

to repent had vanished. He had lived either in ignorance

or open indifference of one of the greatest principles of

life and law. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for

whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For

he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corrup-

tion: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit

reap life everlasting " (Gal. 6 : 7-8). And it would seem

that in this important matter, Adoni-bezek was not alone.

"And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died."

Before the throne of God he would be without excuse; a

poor, destitute, bankrupt soul, with no friend-no hope-

no Saviour. He had deliberately closed his eyes to the

requirements of moral and spiritual law, and his ultimate

fate should be a warning to us all.