DID JEPHTHAH PUT HIS DAUGHTER ON AN ALTAR AND KILL HER?
Bible Study / Daily Devotional
Daily Devotions
Average reading time is about 4 and a half minutes
When Jephthah’s daughter was the first to greet him, he said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! … For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it” (verse 35). She answered, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth” (v. 36).
The chapter goes on to say that he “carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man” (v. 39, emphasis supplied). Now notice her response, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity” (v. 37, emphasis supplied). She is not crying over her impending death, but over her not being able to marry and have children.
I believe that what Jephthah did to fulfill his vow was similar to what Hannah did with Samuel (see 1 Samuel 1:27, 28). He brought his daughter to the sanctuary, and she was consecrated to the service of the Lord, which apparently meant she was to remain celibate.
There are several biblical reasons why I believe Jephthah did not kill his daughter, but consecrated her instead. First, human sacrifices were an abomination (Leviticus 18:21). Second, Jephthah had it in his power to redeem his daughter (Leviticus 27:2). Finally, the Bible says she bewailed her virginity and that Israelite women went yearly to comfort her (Judges 11:38–40). Where did they go? They went to the temple, because her life was consecrated to the Lord.
This corresponds with Anna mentioned in the New Testament, “who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Judges 11:30
DID JEPHTHAH PUT HIS DAUGHTER ON AN ALTAR AND KILL HER?
Bible Study / Daily Devotional
Daily Devotions
Average reading time is about 4 and a half minutes
When Jephthah’s daughter was the first to greet him, he said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! … For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it” (verse 35). She answered, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth” (v. 36).
The chapter goes on to say that he “carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man” (v. 39, emphasis supplied). Now notice her response, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity” (v. 37, emphasis supplied). She is not crying over her impending death, but over her not being able to marry and have children.
I believe that what Jephthah did to fulfill his vow was similar to what Hannah did with Samuel (see 1 Samuel 1:27, 28). He brought his daughter to the sanctuary, and she was consecrated to the service of the Lord, which apparently meant she was to remain celibate.
There are several biblical reasons why I believe Jephthah did not kill his daughter, but consecrated her instead. First, human sacrifices were an abomination (Leviticus 18:21). Second, Jephthah had it in his power to redeem his daughter (Leviticus 27:2). Finally, the Bible says she bewailed her virginity and that Israelite women went yearly to comfort her (Judges 11:38–40). Where did they go? They went to the temple, because her life was consecrated to the Lord.
This corresponds with Anna mentioned in the New Testament, “who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Judges 11:30
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