Gideon’s Army of Three Hundred

Early in the morning Jerubbaal[fn] (that is, Gideon) and all the men with him camped beside vvv the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.

2 

Then the LORD said to Gideon,“You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying,‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men:‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ”

So twenty-two thousand [of them] turned back, but ten thousand remained.

4 

Then the LORD said to Gideon,“There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you,‘This [one] shall go with you,’ he shall go But if I say‘This [one] shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5 

So [Gideon] brought the men down to the water, and the LORD said to [him],“Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped [the water] with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink

7 

Then the LORD said to Gideon,“With the three hundred men who lapped [the water] I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home.”

8 

So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and rams’ horns of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

9