Judg 7:3 | NETfull | STEP | Now, announce to the men, ‘Whoever is shaking with fear may turn around and leave Mount Gilead.’” Twenty-two thousand men went home; ten thousand remained.

Judges 7:3

3 Now, announce to the men, ^{▼▼Heb “call into the ears of the people.”} ‘Whoever is shaking with fear ^{▼▼Heb “afraid and shaking.”} may turn around and leave Mount Gilead.’” ^{▼▼ Many interpreters reject the MT reading “and leave Mount Gilead” for geographical reasons. A possible alternative, involving rather radical emendation of the Hebrew text, would be, “So Gideon tested them” (i.e., thinned the ranks in this manner).} Twenty-two thousand men ^{▼▼Heb “people.” The translation uses “men” because warriors are in view, and in ancient Israelite culture these would be only males. (This is also the case in vv. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.)} went home; ^{▼▼ Or “turned around, back.”} ten thousand remained.