Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 8:30

"And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten; for he had many wives." — Judges 8:30 (ASV)

Threescore and ten sons. —According to Eastern customs, no account is taken of his daughters.

He had many wives. —It is clear that Gideon was a king in all but name. This is the most magnificent, but the least honorable, period of his career. In Deuteronomy 17:17 it had been said of the future king, Neither shall he multiply wives to himself... neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Polygamy was only adopted on a large scale by rulers (Judges 10:4; Judges 12:9).