Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.
And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.
And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.
But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.
And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?
Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands.
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
Judges 11 tells the complex and often troubling story of Jephthah, one of Israel's judges during a period of significant moral decline. This chapter answers the question posed at the end of Judges 10: who will lead Gilead's fight against the oppressive Ammonites? We see Jephthah, a marginalized warrior, rise to power, make a rash vow, and ultimately face devastating consequences. This narrative explores themes of leadership, faith, the dangers of impulsive promises, and the far-reaching impact of our choices. The story of Jephthah in Judges 11 serves as a reminder that our background doesn't determine our usefulness to God.
Jephthah's Background and Call to Leadership (Judges 11:1-11)
Jephthah's story begins with an acknowledgment of his unusual origins. Judges 11:1 states that he was the son of a prostitute and Gilead (who also gives name to the region), highlighting his status as an outsider. This detail is significant: your background doesn’t determine your usefulness to God. Just as Rahab the harlot was included in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), Jephthah's humble beginnings do not disqualify him from God's purpose.
Jephthah's half-brothers, sons of Gilead by his legitimate wife, drove him away to prevent him from inheriting the family property. He fled to the land of Tob, where he became a leader of a band of men, likely warriors and perhaps even bandits (Judges 11:1-3). This experience honed his skills as a fighter and a leader, preparing him for the role he was eventually called to fulfill.
Meanwhile, the Ammonites were oppressing Israel, particularly the region of Gilead (Judges 10:7-8). Facing this threat, the elders of Gilead realized they needed an experienced commander. They sought out Jephthah in Tob, offering him the leadership position (Judges 11:4-6). Initially, Jephthah was reluctant, reminding them of their past rejection. However, the elders insisted, promising to make him head over all the people of Gilead if he led them to victory (Judges 11:7-8). Jephthah agreed, but he made them swear an oath before the Lord in Mizpah to uphold their promise (Judges 11:9-10). This oath solidified his position and marked a turning point in his life, from outcast to leader.
Diplomatic Attempts and Divine Empowerment (Judges 11:12-28)
Before engaging in battle, Jephthah attempted to negotiate with the Ammonites, seeking a peaceful resolution. He sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking why they were attacking Israel. The king claimed that Israel had seized Ammonite land when they came out of Egypt (Judges 11:12-13).
Jephthah refuted this claim with a detailed historical account. He explained that Israel had not taken land from Ammon but from the Amorites, who had attacked them when they requested passage through their territory. The Lord had given Israel victory over the Amorites and their land (Judges 11:14-23). Jephthah further argued that Israel had occupied the land for 300 years without any prior claims from Ammon (Judges 11:26). He concluded by urging the king of Ammon not to sin against Israel by waging an unjust war (Judges 11:27).
Despite Jephthah's reasoned arguments, the king of Ammon refused to listen (Judges 11:28). This rejection highlighted the Ammonites' stubbornness and their determination to pursue their aggressive agenda.
Judges 11:29 marks a crucial moment: "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." This divine empowerment was a supernatural endowment to fulfill a particular task. Filled with the Spirit, Jephthah rallied the men of Gilead and Manasseh, preparing for battle against the Ammonites.
The Tragic Vow (Judges 11:29-31)
Driven by a desire for victory, Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, then whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will offer it as a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).
This vow is one of the most debated passages in the Bible. Jephthah was so intent on defeating Israel’s enemy that he wanted to let God know that he was serious about following through on the job. The ambiguity of the wording, specifically the phrase "whatever comes out," raises questions about Jephthah's intent. Did he expect an animal, or did he consider the possibility of a human? Was he obligated to offer her as a human sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10) or devote the rest of her life to service to God? Regardless, the consequences of this vow would be devastating.
Victory and Heartbreak (Judges 11:32-40)
The Lord granted Jephthah victory over the Ammonites, completely crushing their threat to Israel (Judges 11:32-33). However, Jephthah's triumph was short-lived. As he returned home to Mizpah, his daughter, his only child, came out to greet him with tambourines and dancing (Judges 11:34).
Overcome with grief, Jephthah tore his clothes and told her about the vow he had made. His daughter, demonstrating remarkable faith and selflessness, acknowledged the binding nature of the vow and urged him to fulfill it, since the Lord had given him victory (Judges 11:35-36).
She only asked for two months to roam the hills with her friends and mourn her virginity, as she would never marry or have children (Judges 11:37-38). After this period, she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow (Judges 11:39).
Jephthah's condition for leading this army was to be made the leader of Gilead (11:9). Clearly he had aspirations to be king, to build a family dynasty. But until the Israelites were willing to look to God as their King, he didn’t want them to have a human king, because unless a government is accountable to God, men in power will act like gods. Consider Gideon, Abimelech, Jephthah (and, later, Saul): God blocked any dynasty that would be man-centered and not God-centered. So when Jephthah’s daughter, his only offspring, came out of his house to meet him, his dynasty plans were thwarted.
The chapter concludes with the establishment of a tradition in Israel, where the women would commemorate Jephthah's daughter for four days each year (Judges 11:40). This annual remembrance served as a reminder of the tragic consequences of Jephthah's rash vow and the sacrifice of his daughter. Though God calls us to obey governing authorities (see Romans 13:1), we are to give our ultimate allegiance to him because he is sovereign (see Acts 5:29).
The story of Jephthah is a cautionary tale about the importance of careful consideration before making vows to God. It highlights the dangers of impulsive promises and the potential for unintended consequences. While Jephthah demonstrated faith and courage in leading Israel to victory, his tragic vow serves as a reminder that even those who are used by God can make devastating mistakes. This narrative encourages us to seek God's guidance, to think before we speak, and to understand that true devotion involves obedience and wisdom, not just zealous promises.
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.
And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.
And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.
But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.
And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?
Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands.
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
Judges 11 tells the complex and often troubling story of Jephthah, one of Israel's judges during a period of significant moral decline. This chapter answers the question posed at the end of Judges 10: who will lead Gilead's fight against the oppressive Ammonites? We see Jephthah, a marginalized warrior, rise to power, make a rash vow, and ultimately face devastating consequences. This narrative explores themes of leadership, faith, the dangers of impulsive promises, and the far-reaching impact of our choices. The story of Jephthah in Judges 11 serves as a reminder that our background doesn't determine our usefulness to God.
Jephthah's Background and Call to Leadership (Judges 11:1-11)
Jephthah's story begins with an acknowledgment of his unusual origins. Judges 11:1 states that he was the son of a prostitute and Gilead (who also gives name to the region), highlighting his status as an outsider. This detail is significant: your background doesn’t determine your usefulness to God. Just as Rahab the harlot was included in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), Jephthah's humble beginnings do not disqualify him from God's purpose.
Jephthah's half-brothers, sons of Gilead by his legitimate wife, drove him away to prevent him from inheriting the family property. He fled to the land of Tob, where he became a leader of a band of men, likely warriors and perhaps even bandits (Judges 11:1-3). This experience honed his skills as a fighter and a leader, preparing him for the role he was eventually called to fulfill.
Meanwhile, the Ammonites were oppressing Israel, particularly the region of Gilead (Judges 10:7-8). Facing this threat, the elders of Gilead realized they needed an experienced commander. They sought out Jephthah in Tob, offering him the leadership position (Judges 11:4-6). Initially, Jephthah was reluctant, reminding them of their past rejection. However, the elders insisted, promising to make him head over all the people of Gilead if he led them to victory (Judges 11:7-8). Jephthah agreed, but he made them swear an oath before the Lord in Mizpah to uphold their promise (Judges 11:9-10). This oath solidified his position and marked a turning point in his life, from outcast to leader.
Diplomatic Attempts and Divine Empowerment (Judges 11:12-28)
Before engaging in battle, Jephthah attempted to negotiate with the Ammonites, seeking a peaceful resolution. He sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking why they were attacking Israel. The king claimed that Israel had seized Ammonite land when they came out of Egypt (Judges 11:12-13).
Jephthah refuted this claim with a detailed historical account. He explained that Israel had not taken land from Ammon but from the Amorites, who had attacked them when they requested passage through their territory. The Lord had given Israel victory over the Amorites and their land (Judges 11:14-23). Jephthah further argued that Israel had occupied the land for 300 years without any prior claims from Ammon (Judges 11:26). He concluded by urging the king of Ammon not to sin against Israel by waging an unjust war (Judges 11:27).
Despite Jephthah's reasoned arguments, the king of Ammon refused to listen (Judges 11:28). This rejection highlighted the Ammonites' stubbornness and their determination to pursue their aggressive agenda.
Judges 11:29 marks a crucial moment: "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." This divine empowerment was a supernatural endowment to fulfill a particular task. Filled with the Spirit, Jephthah rallied the men of Gilead and Manasseh, preparing for battle against the Ammonites.
The Tragic Vow (Judges 11:29-31)
Driven by a desire for victory, Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, then whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will offer it as a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).
This vow is one of the most debated passages in the Bible. Jephthah was so intent on defeating Israel’s enemy that he wanted to let God know that he was serious about following through on the job. The ambiguity of the wording, specifically the phrase "whatever comes out," raises questions about Jephthah's intent. Did he expect an animal, or did he consider the possibility of a human? Was he obligated to offer her as a human sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10) or devote the rest of her life to service to God? Regardless, the consequences of this vow would be devastating.
Victory and Heartbreak (Judges 11:32-40)
The Lord granted Jephthah victory over the Ammonites, completely crushing their threat to Israel (Judges 11:32-33). However, Jephthah's triumph was short-lived. As he returned home to Mizpah, his daughter, his only child, came out to greet him with tambourines and dancing (Judges 11:34).
Overcome with grief, Jephthah tore his clothes and told her about the vow he had made. His daughter, demonstrating remarkable faith and selflessness, acknowledged the binding nature of the vow and urged him to fulfill it, since the Lord had given him victory (Judges 11:35-36).
She only asked for two months to roam the hills with her friends and mourn her virginity, as she would never marry or have children (Judges 11:37-38). After this period, she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow (Judges 11:39).
Jephthah's condition for leading this army was to be made the leader of Gilead (11:9). Clearly he had aspirations to be king, to build a family dynasty. But until the Israelites were willing to look to God as their King, he didn’t want them to have a human king, because unless a government is accountable to God, men in power will act like gods. Consider Gideon, Abimelech, Jephthah (and, later, Saul): God blocked any dynasty that would be man-centered and not God-centered. So when Jephthah’s daughter, his only offspring, came out of his house to meet him, his dynasty plans were thwarted.
The chapter concludes with the establishment of a tradition in Israel, where the women would commemorate Jephthah's daughter for four days each year (Judges 11:40). This annual remembrance served as a reminder of the tragic consequences of Jephthah's rash vow and the sacrifice of his daughter. Though God calls us to obey governing authorities (see Romans 13:1), we are to give our ultimate allegiance to him because he is sovereign (see Acts 5:29).
The story of Jephthah is a cautionary tale about the importance of careful consideration before making vows to God. It highlights the dangers of impulsive promises and the potential for unintended consequences. While Jephthah demonstrated faith and courage in leading Israel to victory, his tragic vow serves as a reminder that even those who are used by God can make devastating mistakes. This narrative encourages us to seek God's guidance, to think before we speak, and to understand that true devotion involves obedience and wisdom, not just zealous promises.