Gideon and the 'Isrealite army' were camped on the slopes of mount Gilboa in an area called Harod ['the fountain of trembling']. Across the plain to the north-west on the hill of Moreh was the massive Midianite army.
As he viewed this 'nightmare', with obvious death or capture and torture as the outcome, he hears a voice speak to him. Probably calm at first, so calm that maybe Gideon doesn't hear (or chooses not to listen) and then louder . . . .
"You have too many men"
WHAT? The Midianites outnumbered the Isrealites 4 to 1. How could Gideon possibly have too many men?
God tells Gideon that if any of his troops are scared, they can leave the battlefield and go home.
This sounds crazy!
However, this was a practice commanded from the law of Moses [Deut. 20:8]. But hardly a strategy that Gideon had in mind.
Gideon was feeling down hearted and afraid when he had 32'000 troops. Imagine what he was feeling now 22'000 of those troops had "legged it" back home!
NOW they were out numbered 13 to 1.
Love you x
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