Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 7:24

"And 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." — Judges 7:24 (ASV)

Throughout all mount Ephraim. —He had not ventured to summon these haughty clansmen before his victory was assured.

Take before them the waters. —i.e., “intercept their flight to Beth-barah and Jordan.” The “waters” are probably the marshes formed by streams which flow from the watershed of the hills of Ephraim into the Jordan.

Beth-barah. —“House of the waste,” not, as Jerome says, “of the well.” It can hardly be the Bethabara (house of the passage) of John 1:28, which seems to be too far south.