m.

6:35. And he sent messengers into all Manasses, and they also followed
him and other messengers into Aser and Zabulon, and Nephthali, and
they came to meet him.

6:36. And Gedeon said to God: If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as
thou hast said,

6:37. I will put this fleece of wool on the floor: if there be dew in
the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground beside, I shall know
that by my hand, as thou hast said, thou wilt deliver Israel.

6:38. And it was so. And rising before day, wringing the fleece, he
filled a vessel with the dew.

6:39. And he said again to God: Let not thy wrath be kindled against me,
if I try once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that the fleece
only may be dry, and all the ground wet with dew.

6:40. And God did that night as he had requested: and it was dry on the
fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Judges Chapter 7

Gedeon, with three hundred men, by stratagem defeateth the Madianites.

7:1. Then Jerobaal, who is the same as Gedeon, rising up early, and all
the people with him, came to the fountain that is called Harad. Now the
camp of Madian was in the valley, on the north side of the high hill.

7:2. And the Lord said to Gedeon: The people that are with thee are
many, and Madian shall not be delivered into their hands: lest Israel
should glory against me, and say: I was delivered by my own strength.

Lest Israel, etc... By this we see that God will not choose for his
instruments in great achievements, which depend purely on his grace,
such as, through pride and self conceit, will take the glory to
themselves.

7:3. Speak to the people, and proclaim in the hearing of all: Whosoever
is fearful and timorous, let him return. So two and twenty thousand men
went away from Mount Galaad and returned home, and only ten thousand
remained.

7:4. And the Lord said to Gedeon: The people are still too many, bring
them to the waters, and there I will try them: and of whom I shall say
to thee, This shall go with thee, let him go: whom I shall forbid to go,
let him return.

7:5. And when the people were come down to the waters, the Lord said to
Gedeon: They that shall lap the water with their tongues, as dogs are
wont to lap, thou shalt set apart by themselves: but they that shall
drink bowing down their knees, shall be on the other side.

7:6. And the number of them that had lapped water; casting it with the
hand to their mouth, was three hundred m