The Lord supported the descendants of Joseph (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) only when they attacked Bethel together. Bethel was a sacred place for the Israelites since Jacob's time (Genesis 28:19). They failed when they attacked separately (Judges 1:27–29).
Bethel is linked to the battle against Ai (Joshua 7:2) and is mentioned in the list of kings that Israel defeated (Joshua 12:16).