# Then Gideon called for soldiers to come to him, and 32,000 men came.

Some languages might need to say why he called the soldiers: “When Gideon called the Israelites to come fight against the Midianites, 32,000 soldiers came to him” (See: [16:08](16/08)).

# 32,000

This could also be written in words: “thirty-two thousand men.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])

# But God told him

The connecting word **But** contrasts the number of men who came to fight compared with God's view of the number he wanted. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])

# 22,000

This could also be written in words: “twenty-two thousand.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])

# too many men

This was more soldiers than God wanted for this fight. If that many solders fought and won, they would think that they won the battle with their own strength, and they would not know that God did it.

# So Gideon sent home 22,000 men

The connecting word **So** connects the reason (God told Gideon there were too many men), with the result (Gideon sent home 22,000 men). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])

# except for 300 soldiers

This sentence could be translated as: “So Gideon allowed only 300 men to stay, and the rest of the men went home.”

# 300

This could also be written in words: “three hundred.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])