And the men of Israel gathered themselves together
Not out of all the tribes, but out of those which lay nearest, and which are particularly mentioned:
out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh:
and these seem to be the same persons out of those tribes who first joined Gideon, but were separated from his army; both those that were fearful, and those that bowed their knees to drink, and who perhaps had not gone far before they heard of the defeat and flight of the Midianites; and therefore though they had not courage to face the enemy, at least most of them, yet had spirit enough to pursue a flying enemy; wherefore they returned, or however directed their course the nearest way, where they supposed they fled:
and pursued after the Midianites;
and those that were with them.