וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־גִּדְע֗וֹן עוֹד֮ הָעָ֣ם רָב֒ הוֹרֵ֤ד אוֹתָם֙ אֶל־הַמַּ֔יִם וְאֶצְרְפֶ֥נּוּ לְךָ֖ שָׁ֑ם וְהָיָ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ אֹמַ֨ר אֵלֶ֜יךָ זֶ֣ה ׀ יֵלֵ֣ךְ אִתָּ֗ךְ ה֚וּא יֵלֵ֣ךְ אִתָּ֔ךְ וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַ֜ר אֵלֶ֗יךָ זֶ֚ה לֹא־יֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔ךְ ה֖וּא לֹ֥א יֵלֵֽךְ׃
At sinabi ng Walang-Hanggan kay Gideon: “Napakarami pa rin ng bayan. Ibaba mo sila sa tubig, at doon ay sasalain Ko sila para sa iyo. At mangyayari na ang sinumang sabihin Ko sa iyo: ‹Ang taong ito ay sasama sa iyo,› siya ay sasama sa iyo; at ang sinumang sabihin Ko sa iyo: ‹Ang taong ito ay hindi sasama sa iyo,› siya ay hindi sasama.”
Akeidat Yitzchak
Some problems in the text of our Parshah. (1) After the Priest has assured the assembled army of victory, in what way would the presence of the categories of people who are being sent home lessen the confidence in victory of the others? Why would that Priest even make mention of such fears in his speech? (2) The whole warning seems unfair. The division between the different groups of draftees is peculiar. A) Everyone is needed at home. B) If such a person has faith in G'd why would the fact that he is in the process of building a home diminish such faith? (3) Why is the last paragraph,- the one dealing with "whosoever is afraid,"- said by the military police and not by the Priest?