Judges 12 14

Judges 12:14 kjv

And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

Judges 12:14 nkjv

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years.

Judges 12:14 niv

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years.

Judges 12:14 esv

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

Judges 12:14 nlt

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.

Judges 12 verses

Judges 12 14 Meaning

Judges 12:14 describes Abdon, one of the minor judges of Israel. The verse highlights his considerable personal wealth, family prominence, and his role as a local leader. It notes he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, totaling seventy men in his immediate lineage who were significant enough to ride on seventy donkey colts, a clear indicator of status and affluence. His term as a judge over Israel lasted eight years, during which he presumably maintained peace and administered justice in his region.

Judges 12 14 Context

Judges 12:14 is situated in a period after Jephthah's controversial judgeship and his vow concerning his daughter. It introduces Abdon from Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, the last of the so-called "minor judges" described consecutively (Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon). Unlike prominent judges like Gideon or Samson, whose stories feature dramatic deliverances, the accounts of these minor judges are notably brief, lacking details of military conquests or significant spiritual awakenings. Instead, they focus on their lineage, family size, wealth (often measured in donkeys), and the duration of their tenure. Abdon's description, much like Jair's (Jdg 10:3-5) and Ibzan's (Jdg 12:8-10), emphasizes personal prosperity and family size, indicating a period of more stable, localized administrative governance rather than national warfare. These descriptions highlight the socio-economic standing of the individual, which likely facilitated their judicial authority in their respective regions.

Judges 12 14 Word analysis

• He had (וַיְהִי-לוֹ, vay'hī-lō): Literally "and there was to him." This phrase introduces the subject's possession or state of being. It's a simple, direct statement of ownership and existence in Hebrew, common for listing characteristics or possessions.

• forty (אַרְבָּעִים, arba'im): This numerical term indicates a substantial number. In biblical contexts, 40 often symbolizes a significant period, such as a generation or a time of testing (e.g., 40 days of rain in the flood, 40 years in the wilderness). Here, it appears to be a literal count, emphasizing the extraordinary size of Abdon's immediate family.

• sons (בָּנִים, bānim): Refers to male offspring. In ancient Israelite culture, having many sons was a profound blessing, signifying strength, legacy, continuity of the family name, and security in old age. It indicated divine favor and a robust household.

• and thirty (וּשְׁלֹשִׁים, ūshloshim): The conjunction 'and' connects this next numerical aspect to the previous. The number 30 adds to the total, highlighting further prosperity.

• grandsons (בְּנֵי בָנִים, b'nē bānim): Literally "sons of sons." This specifies the next generation of male descendants. Having a large number of grandsons further solidifies a patriarch's influence and family prominence, demonstrating a thriving and expansive lineage. This implies a strong, generational presence in the community.

• who rode on seventy (רֹכְבִים עַל־שִׁבְעִים, rokhevīm 'al-shiv'im): The verb rokhevīm is an active participle, "riders." This signifies an action, emphasizing that these men were actively mounted. The number seventy (shiv'im) itself holds symbolic weight in biblical narratives, often signifying completion or fullness (e.g., 70 nations, 70 elders of Israel, 70 members of Jacob's household entering Egypt). Here, it could be a literal number combining 40 sons and 30 grandsons, or it could mean that 70 members of his household, likely including others beyond his direct sons/grandsons, were prominent riders.

• donkey colts (עֲיָרִים, 'ayarīm): The singular 'ayīr refers to a young male donkey or ass, often specifically one used for riding. In ancient Israel, donkeys were vital for travel and transport. For a significant figure, riding a donkey, particularly a "colt," conveyed dignity, peace, and often authority, in contrast to horses which were associated with warfare and kingship (as per Deuteronomic law against kings multiplying horses, Deut 17:16). Owning seventy such animals signified immense wealth and ability to equip a large personal entourage or extended family for travel.

• and he judged Israel (וַיִּשְׁפֹּט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayyishpōt 'et-Yisrā'ēl): The verb shāfat means "to judge," "govern," or "deliver." In the context of the minor judges, it emphasizes his role in maintaining justice, resolving disputes, and providing administrative leadership within his localized sphere, rather than leading major military campaigns against foreign oppressors. This aspect signifies his official authority and function within the tribal structure.

• eight years (שְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנִים, sh'moneh shānīm): This states the duration of Abdon's tenure as judge. It's a relatively short period compared to some major judges (e.g., Deborah/Barak 40 years, Gideon 40 years). This brevity is characteristic of the "minor judges," suggesting their influence might have been regional and primarily administrative, rather than extensive national leadership or prolonged deliverance.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He had forty sons and thirty grandsons": This phrase details the patriarch's expansive family, a key indicator of prosperity, social standing, and God's blessing in ancient Israel. This large number underscores his robust lineage and potential for local influence.
  • "who rode on seventy donkey colts": This specifies the lifestyle and status of his large family contingent. The ability to furnish each of these prominent male descendants with a donkey colt signifies immense wealth and high social status, implying a large, well-resourced household capable of independent movement and a notable presence in the land. The number 70 might also symbolically connect to a full and complete representation, reinforcing the pervasive influence of Abdon's household.

Judges 12 14 Bonus section

The accounts of the "minor judges" (Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon) collectively highlight a different facet of judgeship, not always involving grand military campaigns against oppressors. These judges likely maintained internal stability, acted as arbiters of disputes, and oversaw community life in their regions during what might have been relatively calm intervals. The emphasis on their personal wealth, especially the possession of numerous donkey colts, indicates that they possessed significant socio-economic capital that enabled their judicial and leadership roles. In a decentralized society, such wealthy patriarchs often assumed leadership functions by virtue of their status, resources, and large familial networks which provided a base of support and order. The recurrent mention of sons riding donkeys among Jair and Abdon might suggest a shared regional culture or a consistent pattern for depicting this type of influential leadership within Israel during that era.

Judges 12 14 Commentary

Judges 12:14 concisely depicts Abdon, presenting him as a figure of established wealth and familial prominence within Israel. Unlike many other judges known for dramatic military deliverances, Abdon, like Jair and Ibzan, is primarily described by his impressive family size and economic prosperity, evidenced by his "forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkey colts." This detailed listing of his domestic well-being, including valuable riding animals, suggests his authority derived less from martial prowess and more from his patriarchal stature, inherited influence, and perhaps the ability to administer justice effectively within his tribal domain. The emphasis on "donkey colts" rather than warhorses reflects a period of internal peace and a focus on domestic order, as donkeys symbolized a more humble, peaceable mode of leadership often seen among tribal leaders. His "eight years" of judging Israel, a relatively short tenure, further implies a local or administrative role rather than widespread national deliverance. The verse subtly conveys that divine blessing, though not explicitly stated as it was for military deliverers, could also manifest in such peaceful prosperity and stable leadership within the community during this tumultuous period in Israel's history. This contrasts sharply with the spiritual and moral decline that permeates much of Judges.