“Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.”
Before the armies of Israel went into battle, the commanding officers would stand before the troops and give leave to any soldier who had just become engaged, or had just planted a vineyard, or was afraid or worried, i.e., was not confident that the Lord would be with him in the battle.
Such confidence did not guarantee that the soldier would not be killed in battle. It did signify, however, his commitment to the Lord whose battle it was.
