The answer is: Adoni-Bezek

Judges 1:6-7 - Adoni-Bezek admitted that he had done the same to seventy kings, seeing it as divine retribution.

Adoni-Bezek, a somewhat infamous figure in the Book of Judges, met a truly poetic yet sinister fate. After being captured, Judah did justice by incapacitating Adoni-Bezek—cutting off his thumbs and big toes. Talk about a body blow! This brutal method of punishment shows just how brutal ancient warfare could be, reflecting a warrior culture that often prided itself on dramatic retribution.

What makes Adoni-Bezek's story particularly compelling is his own admission of having done the same to seventy kings. He openly accepted his fate as divine justice, suggesting a belief that the universe operates on a kind of moral ledger. This concept of karma, or divine retributive justice, resonates across many cultures and religions, and it serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of one’s actions. Adoni-Bezek believed that suffering at the hands of his enemies was a way of paying back all the kings he had defeated and humiliated in life.

In addition to the grim lesson about justice, there's a striking symbolism behind the severed thumbs and toes: the inability to grasp anything or to stand upright—a metaphor for a loss of power and strength. Think of it as an ancient scientific validation of the old saying, “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” When we reflect on stories like this, we're reminded of the laws of balance that permeate not just this story but our everyday life. Everything seems interconnected, and, in the end, even the most powerful can find themselves on the other side of fate’s wheel!