Judges 7:24
“Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters, as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan!” So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan.”
What does Judges 7:24 mean?
Gideon was wrapping up his battle against the Midianites, and he needed reinforcements to cut off the enemy's escape route. He sent word to the tribe of Ephraim asking them to rush down and seize the water crossings, particularly along the Jordan River, so the fleeing Midianites would be trapped and unable to escape. The men of Ephraim responded quickly and took control of those critical passage points as requested. This shows how Gideon's military strategy extended beyond his own small fighting force to coordinate with other tribes, turning what could have been a partial victory into a complete one.