²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan^(A) ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(A) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(B) in the one Spirit,^[a] striving together^(C) as one for the faith of the gospel

³⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,^(A) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^(B)

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,^(A) where John was baptizing.

⁵ The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan^(A) leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,”

²⁷ When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet^(A) in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.

²⁸ “Follow me,” he ordered, “for the Lord has given Moab,^(B) your enemy, into your hands.^(C)” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan^(D) that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over.