Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Judges 7
² The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.
³ 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.
⁴ But the LORD told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.”
⁵ When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.”
⁶ Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.
⁷ The LORD told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”
⁸ So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. The Midianite camp was in the valley just below Gideon.
⁹ That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them!
¹⁰ But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah.
¹¹ Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp.
¹² The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count!