שופטים, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ״ח

Following the successful assassination of the Moabite king, a critical moment arises to launch a decisive military strike. Ehud rallies the Israelites to capitalize on this sudden advantage, urging the people to follow him quickly and charge into battle [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The immediate objective is to eliminate all the Moabite forces stationed on the western side of the Jordan River, specifically around the area of Jericho, known as the City of Palms [רש"י, רד"ק, מלבי"ם]. Ehud assures the people of their impending victory, pointing to the death of the Moabite king as clear proof that God has already delivered the enemy into their hands [מצודת דוד].

To ensure total victory, the Israelites execute a calculated maneuver by capturing the crossing points of the Jordan River that lead east toward the land of Moab [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, רד"ק]. The primary approach among commentators is that seizing these river crossings is intended to cut off all routes of retreat, trapping the Moabite forces who had been ruling within the Land of Israel and preventing them from fleeing back to their own country. Furthermore, this move serves a dual strategic purpose. Securing the river crossings also ensures that no Moabite reinforcements can cross over from the eastern side of the Jordan to assist their trapped brothers [רד"ק].