How Many Soldiers Did Gideon Start With?
The story of Gideon, as told in the Book of Judges (Chapters 6-8), is one of the most famous accounts in the Hebrew Bible. At the core of the narrative is Gideon’s surprise victory over the Midianites, which took place with an unusually small and seemingly untrained army. But before we delve into the details of this military triumph, let’s begin by addressing the central question: How many soldiers did Gideon start with?
Contents
Initial Estimate: 10,000 Soldiers
In Judges 6:33-34, we learn that the Israelites had been oppressed by the Midianites for seven years, and that they were forced to live in holes and caves due to the constant attacks. It was during this period that an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, commissioning him to rescue Israel from their enemies.
Before embarking on this daunting task, Gideon knew he needed an army worthy of the challenge. Thus, he requested God’s guidance, asking for signs to verify the mission’s authenticity (Judges 6:36-38). According to God’s response, Gideon was initially told to summon all those who would not eat of the meal sacrificed to Baal (Judge 6:26), and the Lord promised that this small group would still be numerous enough to rout the Midianites (Judge 6:30).
With this initial estimate, Gideon and his messengers traveled through Manasseh and issued a call to the army. As a result, around 10,000 men from different parts of Israel answered Gideon’s call to take part in the war (Judges 6:35).
Weeding Out
However, the Lord had other plans, and He wanted Gideon to learn to rely not on numbers but on trust in God’s power and wisdom. Thus, in Judges 7:2-3, Gideon was instructed to gather everyone who lapped water with the palm of his hand and those who drank with their hands knee-deep in the brook, but exclude everyone else. This directive likely eliminated many of the unwieldy, thirsty soldiers who were more concerned with immediate relief than with trusting God’s guidance.
After these exclusions, the actual number of soldiers participating in the war decreased to approximately 3,000 men.
Gideon’s Reasons for Weeding Out the Remainder of the Soldiers
But what led Gideon to prune his army even further? In Judges 7:4-7, the text provides some insight:
- God wanted Gideon to know that salvation will come from Him, and not from human numbers.
- Gideon would learn to trust God, rather than his own wisdom.
- It was crucial for the enemy to see that God is with Israel, even before the battle took place.
- The few left standing would become an extraordinary witness to the nation of Israel, proclaiming God’s mighty works and demonstrating His presence.
As Gideon realized that these 3,000 remaining soldiers were insufficient for defeating the enemy, he questioned God’s wisdom. The response from God in Judges 7:15 is classic: "You will save Israel by my own hand". The Israelites’ success was already guaranteed, but God had other plans, including their understanding and dependence on His presence and power.
Conclusions
To answer our initial question, Gideon started with approximately 10,000 soldiers. After God’s weeding-out process, however, this number dwindled to around 3,000 men. Throughout this experience, Gideon and his small band of soldiers came to understand the value of God’s power, the reliability of His promises, and the importance of trust and obedience in His plan for their lives.
| Original Number of Soldiers | Gideon’s Weeding Process | Final Number of Soldiers |
|---|---|---|
| ≈ 10,000 | 3,000 lapped water with palm or drank knee-deep in the brook | ≈ 3,000 men |
The story of Gideon’s military triumph over the Midianites is remarkable, but even more importantly, it highlights the need for dependence on God, faith in His plan, and the willingness to relinquish human expectations for those of the Almighty.
Gideon’s story reminds us that God can achieve miraculous results through even the most seemingly inadequate circumstances. Will you join Gideon’s band of soldiers in faith, trust, and reliance on God’s wisdom?
