The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself.’

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go.”

Gideon had 70 sons, his own offspring, since he had many wives.

but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Many wounded died as far as the entrance of the gate.