•  The Deut 7:1 passage lists seven nations  “greater and mightier” than Israel which God would cast out before them. Three of them were world powers, certainly greater and mightier than Israel. The other four were smaller numerically, but still greater and mightier from the perspective of their long history of fierce warfare, trained armies, and walled cities. Look at the Jebusites, for example. They had the smallest territory, yet their mighty warriors and impregnable defenses were world famous for successfully resisting the aggression of the powerful Amorites, Hittites, Canaanites, and Philistines, each of whom tried to conquer them at some time. At first, the Israelites had no weapons and absolutely zero battle experience.

 •  When Israel crossed the Jordan, Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh decided to stay behind and claim their territory out of what they had taken east of the river. Yet they sent some of their number across the river to help conquer the rest of the land. The number given, ”about 40,000, equipped for war,” cannot possibly be translated “40 families” as they did not send families, only men. (Josh 4:13 ff)

•  In numerous battles the numbers given or implied are very high. Amalek, for example, was called “first of the nations” (Num 24:20) and may have fielded half a million warriors. (Ex 17:8) After loosing to the Israelites, they went on to conquer all of Egypt, Canaan, and Syria. Gideon started with 32,000 from just three tribes (Jud 6:35 ff) yet his opponents were “as numerous as locusts, and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” (Jud 7:12) The Philistines had 10,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and “people like the sand on the seashore” when they gathered to fight Israel. (1 Sam 13:5) These nations were surely greater and mightier than Israel, even at the higher 2.5 million population.

•  Also in numerous battles, the numbers given for the Israelites seem much higher than can be allowed if they started with only 5,550 men of war. In most of these, changing “thousands” to “families or clans” doesn’t work, as these numbers are clearly men of war and not families going out to fight. For example, Moses sent a small number out of the “thousands of Israel” to take vengeance on Midian - 1000 from each tribe, totalling 12,000. (Num 31:1-5) In attacking the “small” town of Ai, Joshua sent 5000 to the west in ambush, and brought his main force from the north. Surely his main force was bigger than 550 men! (Josh 8:12 ff) Barak used 10,000 just from the two tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun (Jud 4:10, 14) and later Deborah sang of 40,000 Israelite men of war in that battle. (Jud 5:8)

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