They feared greatly Namely, Adoni-zedek and his people, he being spoken of (Jos 10:1) as a public person, representing all his people. Gibeon was as one of the royal cities Either really a royal city, and having a king, or equal to one of the royal cities, though it had not a king.
It seems indeed to have been governed by elders, Joshua 9:11. Adoni- zedek sent Either because he was superior to them, or because he was nearest the danger, and most forward in the work.