Definition: And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Judges 12:14. It's a really important part of understanding the story of Israel during a difficult time! Here's what it means in simple terms: “And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts:” “He had…” This tells us that there were a lot of children. “…forty sons and thirty nephews” – This is the key part. It means there were a massive number of kids! We’re talking about a huge family. “that rode on threescore and ten ass colts:” - Now, “ass colt” was a very large, heavy wagon used for transporting goods and people. "Threescore and ten" means three hundred and ten. So, the children were being carried in a very large number of wagons – probably hundreds or even thousands! “And he judged Israel eight years.” “He judged Israel” - This is the main point – this man was leading the judges, and he was responsible for overseeing the people of Israel. “eight years” – This is a long period of time! It means he was in charge for a significant amount of time. Putting it all together: This verse describes a very large family with many children (around 40 sons and 30 nephews). He was responsible for the people of Israel during this time, and he oversaw them for an eight-year period. It suggests a challenging situation for Israel due to these large numbers of people. What does it tell us about the story? Large Family: It highlights the size of the Israelite population at this point. Leadership: The man was in a leadership position, managing a large group of people. Timeframe: The long period (eight years) suggests that things were difficult for them during that time. Do you want me to explain anything further? For example, we could delve into: The context of this verse within the larger story of Judges 12? What kind of challenges the people of Israel faced at this time?