The people, having been led to the brook, evidently expected to cross immediately and advance to the camp of the enemy some distance on the opposite side. A few were eager to begin the engagement, and as they crossed the brook they merely scooped up a little water in their hands and immediately passed forward. Others, fearful of the impending battle and with but little hope in victory, saw here an excuse for tarrying. They knelt down and leisurely drank their fill. Those who hurriedly took a little water in their hand, and sucked it up as they pressed forward toward the camp of the enemy, numbered only 300. With these the Lord promised to bring about the defeat of the Midianites. The sifting had served to remove those who were tainted with idolatry, and to single out those who were men of courage and faith—men whose confidence in God had not been vitiated by idolatrous worship and practices. They had the faith to believe that with God on their side success could be theirs even though their number was small. As Jonathan later reminded his armor-bearer, their number was of small moment in God’s sight (see 1 Sam. 14:6).