Judges 7:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

NIV: Now announce to the army, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

NASB: Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and worried, is to return and leave Mount Gilead.’?' So twenty-two thousand from the people returned, but ten thousand remained.

CSB: Now announce to the troops, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' " So twenty-two thousand of the troops turned back, but ten thousand remained.

NLT: Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’' So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.

KJV: Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

NKJV: Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

After empowering him with the Holy Spirit, collecting a large force of volunteers (Judges 6:34–35), God gave a shocking command to Gideon. Gideon is not a trained soldier or experienced commander. He's likely wondering how to lead such a group. The army of Midian outnumbers his by four-to-one (Judges 8:10), and they're not far away (Judges 7:1). Rather than giving Gideon a plan of attack, the Lord tells him he has too many fighters. He doesn't want anyone to think this victory is due to Israel's might. They must know they were saved by the power of their God (Judges 7:2).

God tells Gideon to announce that any volunteer who is afraid should return home. Not surprisingly, almost two-thirds of the Israelites are scared—hardly unusual for a group of amateurs facing a larger, more experienced enemy. This is also part of the instructions God had already given Israel for battle (Deuteronomy 20:5–8). Gideon's army is now outnumbered almost fourteen-to-one.

Normally, such an event would be a catastrophe in war. Such desertion would make a laughingstock of any ancient army. However, this was exactly the will of God. He wanted fewer warriors for this battle, not more of them. Those who remained were brave enough to stay and fight.

The direction given to those leaving can be confusing: to hurry away from Mount Gilead. The commonly known Mount Gilead was on the east side of the Jordan, some distance from where Gideon is currently camped. Scholars suggest either another hill or mountain in the area was also known as Mount Gilead. Alternatively, the reference might have been to "Mount Gilboa" in the original text yet misspelled in a manuscript.

Judges 7:1–18 begins with Gideon and his large company of Israelite volunteers setting up camp in the hills just a few miles from the Midianite camp in the valley below. God gives Gideon two tests to reduce the number of his troops until only 300 are left. God tells Gideon to spy on the Midianite camp, where he overhears a conversation which bolsters his faith. Gideon returns to his camp and prepares for the attack that night. He gives his men torches concealed in clay jars, as well as trumpets.

Gideon and his 32,000–man army of volunteer Israelites camp in the hills above the Midianite invaders in the valley. The Lord tells Gideon to reduce his troops until only 300 remain. God allows Gideon to overhear the interpretation of a Midianite dream, an event that strengthens his faith. Gideon and his 300 men take positions around the Midianite camp and blow trumpets, hold up torches, and shout battle cries. Those in the camp panic and begin attacking each other. The survivors flee toward the Jordan but are eventually cut off.

Despite a miraculous calling from God, and success in his first actions, Gideon still expressed doubt (Judges 6). After seeing two custom-requested miracles, Gideon prepares to attack the Midianite invaders. He winnows his army down to only 300 men and overhears an encouraging conversation. Gideon and his men surprise the enemy after nightfall with trumpets and torches, sparking a panic. This begins a rout of the enemy. In the next chapter, Gideon succeeds further despite stubbornness from his own people (Judges 8).

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).