 Gideon, a man of renown and valor, is camped near the site of the Midianite army. With Gideon are 32,000 men, arrayed against an army like the sands of the sea in number. Yet, God ordered Gideon to reduce the number of his men. And there departed from his army and returned home 22,000 men, leaving Gideon with a force of only 10,000.