The Seventy Sons Motif in Biblical and Ugaritic Literature

It is well known that Biblical literature bears a strong resemblance to Ugaritic literature. This resemblance is reflected through language, syntax, literary meanings, motifs and so on. Many believe that Biblical scribes were directly or indirectly influenced by Ugaritic texts. I would like to propose another literary motif which is rarely mentioned in Biblical-Ugaritic research: The seventy sons motif. In my paper, I show that this motif does not merely represent a known typological number, but is composed of a certain pattern. This motif appears mainly in the known Ugaritic Ba`al Cycle and in the story of Gideon (Jud 8-9) and Ahab (2 Kgs 10). A rigorous comparison between these stories reveals a strong connection between them, from new and varied perspectives.