Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 12:4

4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said▪ Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim, among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites .

According to this Translation, these words are a scoffing and contemptuous expression of the Ephraimites concerning the Gileadites, whom they call Fugitives of Ephraim; the word Ephraim being here taken largely, as it is elsewhere, as Isa. 7. 2, 5. so as it comprehends the other Neighbouring Tribes, of which Ephraim was in some sort the head or chief; and especially their Brethren of Manasseh, who lived next to them, and were descended from the same Father, Ioseph; by reason whereof, both these Tribes are sometimes reckoned for one, and called by the name of the Tribe of Ioseph. And this large signification of Ephraim may seem probable from the following words, where instead of Ephraim is put the Ephraimites, and the Manassites. By Gileadites here they seem principally to mean the Manassites beyond Iordan, who dwelt in Gilead, as appears from Deut. 3. 13. Iosh. 17. 1, 5, 6. And although other Gileadites were joyn'd with them, yet they vent their passion against these; principally, because they envied them most; partly, because they seem to have had a chief hand in the Victory, Iudg. 11. 29. And partly, because they were more nearly related to them, and therefore more obliged to desire their Conjunction with them in the War. These they here opprobriously call fugitives, i. e. such as had deserted their Brethren of Ephraim and Manasseh, and for some worldly advantage planted themselves beyond Iordan at a distance from their Brethren, and were alienated in Affection from them, and carried on a distinct and separate Interest of their own; as appears by their Monopolizing the glory of this Success to themselves, and excluding their Brethren from it. According to the Hebrew the words lie, and may be rendred thus, Therefore (so chi is oft rendred) they said, Fugitives of Ephraim are ye; (i. e. Ye Ephraimites are meer run-aways: for the words next foregoing are, the men of Gilead smote Ephraim. And having told you what they said, because the Pronoun they was ambiguous, he adds by way of Explication) who said it, even, the Gileadites (and they said it when they had got the advantage over them, and got between them and home, as the next verse shews) being between Ephraim and Manasseh; i. e. Having taken the passages of Iordan, as it follows, which lay between Ephraim and that part of Manasseh which was beyond Iordan. Or these latter words may be rendred thus, And the Gileadites were between Ephraim and Manasseh. So there is only an Ellipsis of two small words, which are oft defective, and to be understood in Scripture. Or thus, And the Gileadites were in the midst of the Ephraimites, and in the midst of the Manassites, to wit, those Manassites who ordinarily lived within Iordan, who possibly were confederate with the Ephraimites in this quarrel. And so the meaning is, they followed close after them, and overtook them, and fell upon the midst of them, and smote them; and they sent a party to intercept them at the passages of Iordan, as it here follows.