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Patriarchs and Prophets
tribe of Manasseh, and also to Asher, Zebulum, and Naphtali, and all
answered to the call.
Gideon dared not place himself at the head of the army without
still further evidence that God had called him to his work, and that
He would be with him. He prayed, “If Thou wilt save Israel by mine
hand, as Thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor;
and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth
besides, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as
Thou hast said.” In the morning the fleece was wet, while the ground
was dry. But now a doubt arose, since wool naturally absorbs moisture
when there is any in the air; the test might not be decisive. Hence
he asked that the sign be reversed, pleading that his extreme caution
might not displease the Lord. His request was granted.
Thus encouraged, Gideon led out his forces to give battle to the
invaders. “All the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children
of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the
valley of Jezreel.” The entire force under Gideon’s command numbered
only thirty-two thousand men; but with the vast host of the enemy
spread out before him, the word of the Lord came to him: “The people
that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their
hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, Mine own hand
hath saved me. 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.” Those who were unwilling to face danger and
hardships, or whose worldly interests would draw their hearts from
the work of God, would add no strength to the armies of Israel. Their
presence would prove only a cause of weakness.
It had been made a law in Israel that before they went to battle the
following proclamation should be made throughout the army: “What
man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let
him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another
man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and
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hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house,
lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man
is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him
go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another
man take her.” And the officers were to speak further to the people,
saying, “What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go