‘Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow” (Judges 11:29-40).

So far, Jephthah has cut a very impressive figure. He’s been diplomatic and firm, trying to build bridges and correcting errors both theological and historical when it comes to talking with Israel’s enemies. It doesn’t do any good, but it’s well intention and surprising considering his background.

So Jephthah is very much part of God’s purpose as: ‘Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah’ (v29). This is very much the pattern in the Old Testament as the Spirit of the Lord seems to come upon the Lord’s people at special times or for special tasks. Jephthah doesn’t just beat the Ammonites, he and his army absolutely annihilates them! His victory is overwhelming and he lives up to his title as: ‘a mighty warrior’ and it’s quite clear that the  Ammonites will not be bothering Israel again anytime soon (vs32-33). It would be wonderful if the story stopped there, but it doesn’t as we are introduced to Jephthah’s dodgy theology!

We might be asking, if the Spirit of the Lord has come upon him, surely no more is necessary as victory for Israel is clearly God’s purpose. Unfortunately Jephthah doesn’t think so: ‘And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,  then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering” (vs30-31). One was could make vows to the Lord as there was provision for it within the Law (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). But the ridiculous thing  is that nowhere is it suggested a vow was required by the Law. It’s clear that it was the Lord’s purpose for Jephthah to be triumphant and apart from anything else, the Lord doesn’t need paying off! But Jephthah goes way beyond what is required by the Law, which demonstrates a very legalistic approach!

In the end this is a tragedy for all concerned. ‘Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter’ (v34). Jephthah, like a typical male who’s made a mistake, blames his misery on his daughter. Obviously, this is a tragedy for the daughter, but is also one for Jephthah as having no descendants will mean that his name will die out with his death!

But it also highlights his dodgy theology. Human sacrifice was not acceptable in the Law as it was associated with the with the nations Israel had driven out. But take another scenario, what if an unclean animal had come out of his house for some reason? That would also not be acceptable as a sacrifice under the law. However you look at it, his vow it is very badly thought out and is so, so wrong! Apart from this, the Law had get out clauses where vows were concerned (see Leviticus 27 for how a vow could be redeemed).

In the end, it’s Jephthah’s daughter who shines the brightest here as she will not let her father be humiliated by breaking his vow, however dumb it may have been! It’s notable that she sees the Lord’s hand in these events, despite her father’s stupidity. It’s her love for her father that is clearly seen in her payment for the consequences of his vow. In a small way she testifies to God’s love for the lost, in that they have done nothing to deserve his love due to their sinful actions. Yet Christ acts as a saviour for those who look to him.

Much ink has been spilled over the question as to whether Jephthah sacrificed his daughter. The case that he did not sacrificed her can be made from the fact that his daughter’s virginity is mentioned three times. This, coupled with the statement that she will never marry seems to suggest being dedicated to a life of service at the Tabernacle. However, these were dark and desperate times were men did dark and desperate things, so anything’s possible!