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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Seventy Sons</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/seventy_sons.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/bsb/judges/8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/seventy.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Seventy Sons</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/seventy_shekels_of_silver.htm" title="Seventy Shekels of Silver">◄</a> Seventy Sons <a href="/topical/s/seventy_sons_of_ahab.htm" title="Seventy Sons of Ahab">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The term "Seventy Sons" is primarily associated with the biblical narrative of Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal, and his descendants. This account is found in the Book of Judges, specifically in <a href="/bsb/judges/8.htm">Judges 8 and 9</a>. Gideon, a judge of Israel, had many wives, and through them, he fathered seventy sons. This large number of offspring is indicative of Gideon's status and influence during his time as a leader in Israel.<br><br><b>Biblical Context</b><br><br>The account of Gideon and his seventy sons is set during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, cries for deliverance, and subsequent rescue by judges raised by God. Gideon is one of the most prominent judges, known for his military victory over the Midianites with a small army of 300 men, as recorded in <a href="/bsb/judges/6.htm">Judges 6-7</a>.<br><br>After Gideon's victory, the Israelites asked him to rule over them, but he refused, saying, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you" (<a href="/judges/8-23.htm">Judges 8:23</a>). Despite this declaration, Gideon's actions following his victory, including the creation of an ephod that became a snare to Israel, suggest a complex legacy.<br><br><b>The Seventy Sons</b><br><br><a href="/judges/8-30.htm">Judges 8:30</a> states, "Gideon had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives" . This detail highlights the practice of polygamy among some of Israel's leaders and the cultural norms of the time. The large number of sons also underscores Gideon's wealth and power, as having many children was often seen as a sign of divine blessing and social status.<br><br><b>Abimelech's Usurpation</b><br><br>The narrative of the seventy sons takes a dark turn with the rise of Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons by a concubine from Shechem. Abimelech sought to establish himself as king and, in a brutal act of ambition, murdered his seventy brothers on a single stone, as recorded in <a href="/judges/9-5.htm">Judges 9:5</a>. However, Jotham, the youngest son, escaped the massacre.<br><br>Abimelech's actions were a direct violation of the familial and tribal bonds that were meant to hold Israel together. His usurpation and the subsequent judgment upon him serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the rejection of God's intended order.<br><br><b>Jotham's Parable</b><br><br>Jotham, the sole surviving son, delivered a parable from Mount Gerizim, warning the people of Shechem about the consequences of their support for Abimelech. In <a href="/judges/9-7.htm">Judges 9:7-15</a>, Jotham's parable of the trees seeking a king serves as a prophetic indictment of Abimelech's illegitimate rule and foreshadows the eventual downfall of both Abimelech and the Shechemites.<br><br><b>Theological Significance</b><br><br>The account of Gideon's seventy sons and the subsequent events involving Abimelech highlight several theological themes. Firstly, it underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of idolatry and self-exaltation. Gideon's initial faithfulness contrasts with the later idolatry associated with the ephod he made, which became a snare to his family and Israel.<br><br>Secondly, the narrative illustrates the consequences of sin and the breakdown of social and familial structures when God's commandments are ignored. Abimelech's fratricide and the ensuing chaos reflect the broader theme of Israel's need for righteous leadership and the ultimate kingship of God.<br><br>Lastly, the account serves as a reminder of God's justice. Despite the temporary success of Abimelech's violent coup, divine retribution eventually comes upon him, fulfilling Jotham's curse and demonstrating that God's justice prevails even amidst human wickedness.<br><br>In summary, the account of the seventy sons of Gideon provides a complex portrait of leadership, legacy, and the consequences of turning away from God's ordained order.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/seventy.htm">Seventy</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/seventy_disciples.htm">Seventy Disciples</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/seventy_weeks.htm">Seventy Weeks</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/seventy_years.htm">Seventy Years</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/s/seventy--70_weeks_in_the_vision_of_daniel.htm">Seventy: 70 Weeks in the Vision of Daniel</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/s/seventy--the_jews_in_captivity_in_babylon_for_seventy_years.htm">Seventy: The Jews in Captivity in Babylon for Seventy Years</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/s/seventy--the_senate_of_the_israilites_composed_of_seventy_elders.htm">Seventy: The Senate of the Israilites Composed of Seventy Elders</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/s/seventy--the_seventy_disciples_sent_forth_by_jesus_(though_the_best_greek_mss_have_seventy-two).htm">Seventy: The Seventy Disciples Sent Forth by Jesus (Though the Best Greek Mss Have "Seventy-Two")</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/num/1775.htm">1775 (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shekels.htm">Shekels (92 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/seventy.htm">Seventy (97 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/thousand.htm">Thousand (405 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/six.htm">Six (198 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/num/675000.htm">675000 (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/num/775.htm">775 (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/num/675.htm">675 (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/numbering.htm">Numbering (35 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/levy.htm">Levy (19 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/invited.htm">Invited (49 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fighting-men.htm">Fighting-men (30 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fastened.htm">Fastened (43 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fillets.htm">Fillets (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/frail.htm">Frail (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/talents.htm">Talents (36 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tops.htm">Tops (37 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/relatives.htm">Relatives (132 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/defended.htm">Defended (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/defend.htm">Defend (38 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/plating.htm">Plating (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/posts.htm">Posts (68 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/plundered.htm">Plundered (44 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/booty.htm">Booty (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/census.htm">Census (24 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/chronology.htm">Chronology</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/capitals.htm">Capitals (21 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abram.htm">Abram (48 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/souls.htm">Souls (114 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/summoned.htm">Summoned (103 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/seventy-four.htm">Seventy-four (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/relief.htm">Relief (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shekel.htm">Shekel (37 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/overlaid.htm">Overlaid (50 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/numbered.htm">Numbered (209 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/persons.htm">Persons (156 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham (2539 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/remainder.htm">Remainder (33 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/spoil.htm">Spoil (140 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rods.htm">Rods (76 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pillars.htm">Pillars (132 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tribute.htm">Tribute (67 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/silver.htm">Silver (329 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/prey.htm">Prey (105 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abraham's.htm">Abraham's (34 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/soldiers.htm">Soldiers (83 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/counted.htm">Counted (122 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rid.htm">Rid (39 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/obtained.htm">Obtained (61 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bands.htm">Bands (130 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hooks.htm">Hooks (41 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/remaining.htm">Remaining (87 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/haran.htm">Haran (19 Occurrences)</a></p><p 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