1
Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon ) and all the peoplewho were with him, roseearly and campedbeside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the northside of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
2
The LORDsaid to Gideon, "The peoplewho are with you are toomany for Me to giveMidian into their hands, for Israel would becomeboastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me.'
3
"Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from MountGilead.' " So 22,000**peoplereturned, but 10,000*remained.
4
Then the LORDsaid to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, 'Thisone shall go with you,' he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, 'Thisone shall not go with you,' he shall not go."
5
So he brought the peopledown to the water. And the LORDsaid to Gideon, "You shall separateeveryonewholaps the water with his tongue as a doglaps, as well as everyonewhokneels* to drink."
7
The LORDsaid to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300*men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other peoplego, eachman to his home."
8
So the 300 men took the people'sprovisions and their trumpets into their hands. And Gideon sentall the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but retained the 300*men; and the camp of Midian was below* him in the valley.
11
and you will hearwhat they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened that you may godown against the camp." So he went with Purah his servantdown to the outposts of the army that was in the camp.
12
Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were withoutnumber, as numerous as the sand on the seashore*.
13
When Gideoncame, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, "Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barleybread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upsidedown so that the tentlayflat."
14
His friendreplied, "This is nothingless*than* the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has givenMidian and all the camp into his hand."
15
When Gideonheard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands."