And the Lord said unto Gideon, the people that are with thee
 are too many
 It appears, by what follows, that there were 32,000 of them, which was but a small army to engage with one of 100,000 more than they; for such was the army of the Midianites and their associates, see ( Judges 8:10 ) but the people were too many, says the Lord, 
 for me to give the Midianites into their hands;
 who would be apt to ascribe the victory to themselves, and not to the Lord; to their number, strength, and valour, and not to the hand of the Lord: 
 lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, mine own hand hath
 saved me;
 or glory over me, take the glory from me, and ascribe it to themselves, boasting that by their power and prowess they had obtained the victory.