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 549 is he that hath planted a vineyard, and 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 and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart." Deuteronomy 20:5-8.

Da Gideon havde flet denne opmuntring, drog han ud med sine styrker for at kæmpe imod fjenderne. "Alle midjanitterne, amalekitterne og Østens stammer sluttede sig sammen, satte over Jordan og slog lejr på Jizreelsletten." Gideon havde kun 32.000 mand under sin kommando, men mens han lå i lejr over for fjendens vældige hær, sagde Herren til ham: "Du har for mange folk hos dig, til at jeg kan give midjanitterne i deres hånd; gjorde jeg det, ville Israel gøre sig stor over for mig og sige: Min egen kraft skaffede mig sejr! Lad derfor udråbe for folket: Enhver, som er ræd og angst, skal vende hjem!" Israels hære ville ikke blive stærkere, fordi der meldte sig et stort antal soldater, som var uvillige til at udsætte sig for fare og vanskeligheder, og hvis verdslige interesser hindrede dem i at gå helhjertet ind for Guds sag. Sådanne ville kun svække hæren.