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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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" /><title>Judges 12:14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/12-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/07_Jdg_12_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 12:14 - Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. 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He led Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon judged Israel eight years,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on 70 donkeys. Abdon judged Israel eight years, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He governed Israel for eight years. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkey colts. And he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on seventy ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons who rode on seventy donkey colts. He judged Israel eight years. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and he has forty sons, and thirty grandsons, riding on seventy donkey-colts, and he judges Israel [for] eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he hath forty sons, and thirty grandsons, riding on seventy ass-colts, and he judgeth Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And there will be to him forty sons and thirty sons' sons riding upon seventy young asses: and he will judge Israel eight years.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he had forty sons, and of them thirty grandsons, mounted upon seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he had forty sons, and from them thirty grandsons, all riding upon seventy young donkeys. And he judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys; he judged Israel eight years.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts; and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he had forty sons, and thirty grandsons, and they were riders on seventy colts, and he judged Israel eight years<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts; and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he had forty sons, and thirty grandsons, that rode upon seventy colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/12-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=3917" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/12.htm">Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">He had</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/705.htm" title="705: ’ar·bā·‘îm (Number-cp) -- Forty. Multiple of arba'; forty.">forty</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nîm (N-mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/7970.htm" title="7970: ū·šə·lō·šîm (Conj-w:: Number-cp) -- Thirty. Or shloshiym; multiple of shalowsh; thirty; or thirtieth.">and thirty</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">grandsons,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇā·nîm (N-mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.)."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7392.htm" title="7392: rō·ḵə·ḇîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To mount and ride, ride. A primitive root; to ride; causatively, to place upon, to despatch.">who rode</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/7657.htm" title="7657: šiḇ·‘îm (Number-cp) -- Seventy (a card. number). Multiple of sheba'; seventy.">seventy</a> <a href="/hebrew/5895.htm" title="5895: ‘ă·yā·rim (N-mp) -- A male donkey. From uwr in the sense of raising; properly, a young ass; hence an ass-colt.">donkeys.</a> <a href="/hebrew/8199.htm" title="8199: way·yiš·pōṭ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To judge, govern. ">And he judged</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/8083.htm" title="8083: šə·mō·neh (Number-fs) -- Or shmowneh; feminine shmonah; or shmownah; apparently from shamen through the idea of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight; also eighth.">eight</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nîm (N-fp) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/25-24.htm">Genesis 25:24-26</a></span><br />When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. / The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau. / After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-20.htm">Genesis 30:20-24</a></span><br />“God has given me a good gift,” she said. “This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” And she named him Zebulun. / After that, Leah gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. / Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Genesis 35:22-26</a></span><br />While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons: / The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-8.htm">Genesis 46:8-27</a></span><br />Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. / The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. / The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Exodus 1:1-5</a></span><br />These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/26-28.htm">Numbers 26:28-34</a></span><br />The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim. / These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead. / These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-13.htm">Deuteronomy 33:13-17</a></span><br />Concerning Joseph he said: “May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath, / with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons, / with the best of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-1.htm">1 Samuel 1:1-2</a></span><br />Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. / He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/7-14.htm">1 Chronicles 7:14-19</a></span><br />The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel through his Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead. / Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters. / Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/8-1.htm">1 Chronicles 8:1-7</a></span><br />Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, / Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. / The sons of Bela: Addar, Gera, Abihud, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/12-30.htm">1 Chronicles 12:30-31</a></span><br />From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty men of valor, famous among their own clans. / From the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 designated by name to come and make David king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-20.htm">1 Chronicles 27:20-22</a></span><br />over the Ephraimites was Hoshea son of Azaziah; over one of the half-tribes of Manasseh was Joel son of Pedaiah; / over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin was Jaasiel son of Abner; / and over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-2.htm">Matthew 1:2-3</a></span><br />Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. / Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-23.htm">Luke 3:23-34</a></span><br />Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, / the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, / the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-5.htm">John 4:5-6</a></span><br />So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. / Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on three score and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.</p><p class="hdg">nephews.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/5-10.htm">Judges 5:10</a></b></br> Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Judges 10:4</a></b></br> And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which <i>are</i> in the land of Gilead.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Ass-Colts</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Asses</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Colts</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Donkeys</a> <a href="/judges/3-8.htm">Eight</a> <a href="/judges/12-13.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/12-13.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/judges/12-13.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/judges/12-13.htm">Judgeth</a> <a href="/judges/12-13.htm">Led</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-4.htm">Nephews</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Riding</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Rode</a> <a href="/judges/9-56.htm">Seventy</a> <a href="/judges/12-11.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/judges/12-9.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/judges/9-24.htm">Threescore</a> <a href="/judges/12-9.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/15-15.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Ass-Colts</a> <a href="/judges/19-3.htm">Asses</a> <a href="/genesis/32-15.htm">Colts</a> <a href="/judges/15-15.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/judges/15-16.htm">Donkeys</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-15.htm">Eight</a> <a href="/judges/13-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/15-20.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/judges/15-20.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/judges/15-20.htm">Judgeth</a> <a href="/judges/15-13.htm">Led</a> <a href="/ezra/8-19.htm">Nephews</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-20.htm">Riding</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-20.htm">Rode</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Seventy</a> <a href="/judges/17-10.htm">Ten</a> <a href="/judges/14-11.htm">Thirty</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Threescore</a> <a href="/judges/13-15.htm">Young</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/12-1.htm">The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, are slain by the Gileadites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/12-7.htm">Jephthah dies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/12-8.htm">Ibzan, who had thirty sons, and thirty daughters</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/12-11.htm">and Elon</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/12-13.htm">and Abdon, who had forty sons, and thirty nephews, judge Israel</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He had forty sons and thirty grandsons</b><br>This phrase highlights the large family of the judge, which was a sign of wealth and status in ancient Israelite culture. Having many sons was often seen as a blessing from God (<a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a>). The number of sons and grandsons suggests a significant household, indicating prosperity and influence. This large family could also imply a strong political alliance, as family members often held positions of power or influence.<p><b>who rode on seventy donkeys</b><br>Riding on donkeys was a symbol of nobility and authority in the ancient Near East. Donkeys were considered valuable animals, and having many donkeys indicated wealth. This detail suggests that the judge's family was not only large but also affluent and respected. In biblical times, donkeys were used by judges and leaders, as seen with other judges like Jair (<a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Judges 10:4</a>). This imagery contrasts with the use of horses, which were associated with war and foreign powers.<p><b>And he judged Israel eight years</b><br>The role of a judge in Israel was to lead and deliver the people, often from oppression, and to administer justice. The eight-year period of his judgeship suggests a time of relative stability and peace, as there is no mention of conflict during his tenure. This duration is shorter compared to some other judges, indicating a possible period of transition or lesser impact. The cyclical nature of the judges' leadership reflects Israel's recurring pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, as seen throughout the Book of Judges.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abdon.htm">Abdon</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, Abdon was a judge of Israel. His leadership is noted for the prosperity and peace during his tenure.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sons_and_grandsons.htm">Sons and Grandsons</a></b><br>Abdon had forty sons and thirty grandsons, indicating a large and influential family. Their ability to ride on donkeys suggests wealth and status.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/donkeys.htm">Donkeys</a></b><br>In ancient Israel, donkeys were a symbol of wealth and status. The mention of seventy donkeys highlights the prosperity during Abdon's judgeship.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation that Abdon judged for eight years. This period was marked by relative peace and stability.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/judgeship.htm">Judgeship</a></b><br>Abdon's role as a judge involved leadership, governance, and maintaining justice in Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/p/prosperity_and_leadership.htm">Prosperity and Leadership</a></b><br>Abdon's large family and their wealth symbolize the blessings that can accompany righteous leadership. Reflect on how godly leadership can lead to prosperity and peace in communities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_and_influence.htm">Legacy and Influence</a></b><br>Abdon's sons and grandsons riding on donkeys suggest a legacy of influence. Consider the importance of leaving a godly legacy for future generations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbols_of_status.htm">Symbols of Status</a></b><br>The donkeys represent status and wealth. Reflect on how material wealth should be used to serve God's purposes rather than personal gain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/duration_of_leadership.htm">Duration of Leadership</a></b><br>Abdon judged Israel for eight years, a relatively short period. Discuss the impact of leadership, regardless of its duration, and how it can be used to honor God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 12</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_ibzan,_elon,_abdon_so_vague.htm">Judges 12:8-15 - Why are Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon mentioned with so few details, making it difficult to verify their historicity?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_david_trust_ziba's_claim.htm">(2 Samuel 16:1-4) Why would David immediately trust Ziba's accusation and grant him all of Mephibosheth's property without further investigation?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_jonathan's_lineage_in_judges_18_30_accurate.htm">Is Jonathan's lineage in Judges 18:30 (identified as Moses' descendant in some translations) consistent with known genealogies, or does it present contradictions?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_tola,_jair,_ibzan,_elon,_abdon.htm">Who were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Thirty nephews.</span>--The Hebrew has "sons of sons" (<span class= "ital">beni bhanim</span>)<span class= "ital">, </span>and the word <span class= "ital">nephews </span>in our version always means "grandsons" (<span class= "ital">nepoles</span>)<span class= "ital">, e.g., </span>in <a href="/job/18-19.htm" title="He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.">Job 18:19</a>, <a href="/isaiah/14-22.htm" title="For I will rise up against them, said the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, said the LORD.">Isaiah 14:22</a>, <a href="/1_timothy/5-4.htm" title="But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.">1Timothy 5:4</a>, as in old English generally; similarly <span class= "ital">nieces </span>means "granddaughters" in Wiclif's Bible (<a href="/genesis/31-43.htm" title="And Laban answered and said to Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that you see is mine: and what can I do this day to these my daughters, or to their children which they have born?">Genesis 31:43</a>, &c). "The Emperor Augustus . . . saw ere he died the <span class= "ital">nephew </span>of his <span class= "ital">niece, </span>that is to say, <span class= "ital">his progenie to the fourth degree of lineal descent</span>" (Holland's <span class= "ital">Pliny, </span>vii. 13; <span class= "ital">Bible Word Book</span>)<span class= "ital">.</span><p><span class= "bld">That rode on threescore and ten ass colts.</span>--Riding on asses' foals in trappings of state implies that they were all wealthy and distinguished persons (<a href="/judges/10-4.htm" title="And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.">Judges 10:4</a>)--perhaps, like the Turkish pennon on the horsetail, that they commanded a division (Ewald, 2:38, 39). Again the LXX. euphemise the ass-colts into the grand and poetic word <span class= "ital">p?lous. </span>Josephus says that Abdon used to ride in state with his seventy sons and grandsons, "who were all very skilful in riding horses." . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Nephews</span>. Rather, <span class="accented">grandsons.</span> Hebrew, <span class="accented">son's son.</span> The number of his family, and their being all mounted on asses, are indications of his wealth and state (see above, <a href="/judges/8-30.htm">Judges 8:30</a>; <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Judges 10:4</a>), and perhaps also of peaceful and prosperous times. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/12-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He had</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִי־</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">forty</span><br /><span class="heb">אַרְבָּעִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·bā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_705.htm">Strong's 705: </a> </span><span class="str2">Forty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sons</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(bā·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and thirty</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׁלֹשִׁים֙</span> <span class="translit">(ū·šə·lō·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7970.htm">Strong's 7970: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thirty, thirtieth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">grandsons,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who rode</span><br /><span class="heb">רֹכְבִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(rō·ḵə·ḇîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7392.htm">Strong's 7392: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ride, to place upon, to despatch</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">seventy</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁבְעִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(šiḇ·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7657.htm">Strong's 7657: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seventy (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">donkeys.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲיָרִ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·yā·rim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5895.htm">Strong's 5895: </a> </span><span class="str2">A young ass, an ass-colt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">And he judged</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·pōṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8199.htm">Strong's 8199: </a> </span><span class="str2">To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">eight</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(šə·mō·neh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8083.htm">Strong's 8083: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cardinal number, eight, eighth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">years.</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁנִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(šā·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> </span><span class="str2">A year</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/12-14.htm">OT History: Judges 12:14 He had forty sons and thirty sons' (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/12-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 12:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 12:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/12-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 12:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 12:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>