Editing Gideon (section)

===Gathering an army===
Gideon then sent out messengers to gather men from the tribes of [[tribe of Asher|Asher]], [[tribe of Zebulun|Zebulun]], and [[tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]], as well as his own tribe of Manasseh, in order to meet an armed force of Midian and Amalek that had crossed the [[Jordan River]]. Gideon's force encamped at [[En Harod]], while the Midianites camped near the "Hill of Moreh".<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|7:1|HE}}</ref>

God informed Gideon that the men he had gathered were too many: with so many men, the Israelites might claim the victory as their own, rather than crediting God. God first instructed Gideon to send home those men who were afraid. Gideon invited any man who wanted to leave, to do so; 22,000 men returned home and 10,000 remained. God then told Gideon that this number was still too many, and instructed Gideon to bring the men to the water to drink. God commanded Gideon to separate those who had bowed down on their knees to drink like dogs, and those who lapped the water from their hands. Only the 300 men who had lapped the water from their cupped hands were allowed to remain.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Judges|7:4–7|HE}}</ref>