Gideon Goes Forth in the Name of Yahweh And Is Reduced to Three Hundred Men (Judges 6:33 to Judges 7:8).
‘ Then all the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east assembled themselves together, and they passed over and pitched in the Valley of Jezreel.'
This was in accordance with their usual practise in their regular attacks on the region. It was harvest time and once again they anticipated good booty and ample revenge on Israel. It was there for the taking. So they passed over the Jordan and settled themselves in the valley of Jezreel from where they could comb out and gather their booty. Jezreel was east of the plain of Esdraelon, and near Taanach and Megiddo.