Judges 7:24 – 8:3 provides the pattern for Judges 8:4–21, which can be seen by comparing the pursuit of Ephraim with the pursuit of Gideon. In Judges 7:24–25 Ephraim pursues Midian, captures Oreb and Zeeb, slaughters them, and then crosses the Jordan to bring their heads to Gideon. Immediately after Ephraim departs, Gideon crosses over the Jordan to pursue not merely the commanders of Midian, but the kings of Midian and eventually captures (Judges 8:12) and kills them (Judges 8:21). Gideon’s pursuit is therefore parallel to Ephraim’s.
4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the 300 men who were with him, exhausted yet pursuing.