And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
The Lord said ... The people ... are too many. Although the Israelite army mustered only 32,000-or one-sixth of the Midianite host-the number was too great; because it was the Lord's purpose to teach Israel a memorable lesson of dependence on Him.