Judges 7:4-6
4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, 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.
5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
With GOD Less is More!
Jewish tradition says the prophet Samuel was the author of the Old Testament book of Judges. The book accounts for the history of Israel before they had a king. The judges did not oversee only legal matters also military and political matters. Gideon is known as the GREATEST of all the 15 judges. Gideon leads in a time when Israel is fighting to reclaim the promise land. Their opposition, the Midianites, outnumbered the Israelites GREATLY! But, GOD wants even LESS Israelites!!
GOD begins lowering the number of the Israelites Army. GOD has Gideon send home everyone who is "fearful and afraid." This reduces Gideon's troops from 22K down to 10K.
In today's verses; "And the LORD said unto Gideon, 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. So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were THREE HUNDRED men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water."
"TRY" - the word used for refining metals by separating the dross from the pure ore. They who threw themselves on the ground and drank freely were the more self-indulgent; while they who, remembering the near presence of the enemy, slaked their thirst with moderation, and without being off their guard for an instant, were the true soldiers of the army of God.
-From the Barnes' Notes on the Bible
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/judges/7-5.htm
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