THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
Why did God command that only those who lapped the water like a dog be gathered? The explanation was provided by the Lord Himself. He stated, "Many men who are with you, for this cause I will not deliver Midian into their hand, lest Israel should boast against Me, saying: My hand shall save me." Consequently, after a significant portion of the people had been dismissed, God instructed that those who remained be taken to the river. Among these, many knelt down to drink directly from the water, but three hundred men did not do this out of indifference; rather, they brought water to their mouths by handfuls. These were the ones God designated to confront the adversaries, so that His divine assistance would be evident to all.
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In a similar manner, through the twelve fishers and tax collectors, along with one leatherworker, the Lord triumphed over the forces of darkness and delivered humanity. Accordingly, the Prophet Isaiah made a comparison, stating: "the rod of the unrepentant scattered Lord, as in the day, and on Midian" (Is. 9:4).