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.
Now go and announce to all the people: 'Anyone who is afraid or scared should leave immediately and go home from Mount Gilead.' So 22,000 people left, and only 10,000 remained.
God told Gideon to let anyone who was afraid leave his army, and most of the soldiers, 22,000 out of 32,000, went home.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Judges, Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites, and God had chosen Gideon as a reluctant leader to rally the Israelites for battle. To demonstrate that victory comes from God's power rather than human strength, He commanded Gideon to dismiss any soldiers who were fearful, ensuring the focus remained on divine intervention. As a result, 22,000 men out of the original army left, leaving 10,000 to continue.
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