Compulsory military service of males twenty years of age and above was balanced with respect for other responsibilities and concern for their fearful attitudes. Israel did not need soldiers who were distracted or afraid. Since the Lord would win the battle, Israel only needed the focused and the fearless!

Remember Gideon does the same thing when he first sends the fearful home to reduce his army from 32,000 to 10,000. (Judges 7:2-3) Next the Lord separated those who were focused on their own concerns (drinking water on their hands and knees with their faces down) from those who were focused on the military engagement (lifting the water to their mouth while they were still looking up and aware of their surroundings.) (Judges 7:4-8) This left a mere 300 fearless and focused men.

Distraction and fear can spread from one person to a group. Likewise, a sense of mission and great faith is also contagious. The Israeli officers were to accept only the focused and the fearless.

“Knowledge of scripture is knowledge of Christ and ignorance of them
is ignorance of him.”
– Jerome 400 AD

The Work of the Prophets
Nathan – Rebuked David
Elijah – Confronted Ahab
Elisha – Anointed Kings
Isaiah – Guided Hezekiah
Jeremiah – Warned Kings
Daniel – Served Gentile Kings
Amos – Condemned Wealthy for exploiting the poor