Gideon obeyed the Lord's direction, and with a heavy heart he saw twenty-two thousand, or more than two thirds of his entire force, depart for their homes. Again the word of the Lord came to him: "The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go." The people were led down to the waterside, expecting to make an immediate advance upon the enemy. A few hastily took a little water in the hand and sucked it up as they went on; but nearly all bowed upon their knees, and leisurely drank from the surface of the stream. Those who took of the water in their hands were but three hundred out of ten thousand; yet these were selected; all the rest were permitted to return to their homes.

Gideon havde ikke turdet give den sædvanlige meddelelse, fordi han havde så få soldater i forhold til fjenden. Han blev højlig forbavset, da der blev sagt til ham, at hans hær var for stor, men Herren så stoltheden og vantroen i sit folks hjerte. De mødte villigt frem, da Gideon gav sin flammende appel, men mange af dem blev grebet af frygt, da de så midjanitternes vældige hær. Hvis Israel havde vundet slaget, ville de selv samme mennesker have taget æren i stedet for at indrømme, at det var Gud, der havde skaffet dem sejren.