Judges 7:3

Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, *“Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained* (v.3).

Here we behold Gideon—comparable in timeline to the latter portion of the 12th century BC—issuing a challenge to the men of Israel that tests the genuine faith and courage needed to follow God’s directive. Gideon’s words, *“Whoever is afraid and trembling”* (v.3), show that God does not force the fearful to remain; rather, He seeks a people who willingly trust Him, regardless of staggering odds. In this moment, God’s plan is to trim the number of warriors down so the victory over Midian will be unmistakably attributed to the LORD rather than to military might. Such trust in God’s power rather than human power is a central principle woven throughout Israel’s history, as seen in earlier narratives and throughout the period of the Judges (Judges 3:7, 6:25 – 32, 8:33 at various points).

This command is proclaimed at *Mount Gilead,* a region east of the Jordan River known for its hilly terrain and famed for its balm in subsequent biblical texts (Jeremiah 8:22). Gilead roughly denotes a territory sometimes associated with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan; this area stood as a border region susceptible to raids, featuring an environment where the Israelites would often have to rely on faith to endure their oppressors (Judges 10:8, 12:4-5).

We see that *22,000* of Gideon’s troops *returned,* leaving only *10,000* (v.3). This startling reduction underscores the principle that God’s power can accomplish His purpose through faithful obedience rather than raw numbers. Worshipping the God of Israel involved trusting and walking in obedience to His commands, an ongoing lesson the Israelites had to re-learn repeatedly. Gideon, who at first considered himself “least” in his family, experiences God’s equipping as he steps forward in faith, paralleling the idea that God uses willing and obedient individuals—often in reduced or weak human circumstances—to illustrate His might (1 Samuel 17:45-47, Judges 7:7 citeturn0file1).

Summary in one sentence: God instructs Gideon to invite any who are fearful to return home, reducing the numbers drastically and emphasizing reliance and trust on God rather than military strength.