‘And Yahweh said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. And let all the people go, every man to his place.” '
Then Yahweh confirmed to Gideon that by these three smaller units of men would deliverance come and the enemy be defeated. The remainder could go to their tents and await the call to further action.