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APRIL 23
And it became a custom in Israel that the
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daughters of Israel went four days each year to
lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.
11:31 I will offer it. Some interpreters reason Then the men of Ephraim gathered
that Jephthah offered his daughter as a living 12 together, crossed over toward Zaphon,
sacrifice in perpetual virginity.With this idea,v. and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over
31 is made to mean “shall surely be the LORD’s” to fight against the people of Ammon, and did
or “I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” The not call us to go with you? We will burn your
view sees only perpetual virginity in vv. 37–40 house down on you with fire!”
and rejects his offering a human sacrifice as 2 And Jephthah said to them, “My people and
being against God’s revealed will (Deut. I were in a great struggle with the people of
12:31). On the other hand, since he was 1)
beyond the Jordan, 2) far from the tabernacle, Ammon; and when I called you, you did not
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3) a hypocrite in religious devotion, 4) familiar deliver me out of their hands. So when I saw
with human sacrifice among other nations, 5) that you would not deliver me, I took my life in
influenced by such superstition,and 6) wanting my hands and crossed over against the people
victory badly, he likely meant a burnt offering. of Ammon; and the LORD delivered them into
The translation in v. 31 is “and,”not “or.”His act my hand. Why then have you come up to me
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came in an era of bizarre things, even incon- this day to fight against me?” Now Jephthah
sistency by leaders whom God otherwise gathered together all the men of Gilead and
empowered (see Gideon in 8:27). fought against Ephraim. And the men of
Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said,
“You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim
comes out of the doors of my house to meet among the Ephraimites and among the
me, when I return in peace from the people of Manassites.” The Gileadites seized the fords
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Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived.
offer it up as a burnt offering.”
32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people And when any Ephraimite who escaped said,
“Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would
of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD
delivered them into his hands. And he de- say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he
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feated them from Aroer as far as Minnith— said, “No,” then they would say to him, “Then
twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim, with a very say, ‘Shibboleth’!” And he would say,
great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it
were subdued before the children of Israel. right. Then they would take him and kill him
34 at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that
When Jephthah came to his house at
Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to time forty-two thousand Ephraimites.
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meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then
was his only child. Besides her he had neither Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried
son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when among the cities of Gilead.
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he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Is-
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“Alas, my daughter! You have brought me rael. He had thirty sons. And he gave away
very low! You are among those who trouble thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in
me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons.
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I cannot go back on it.” He judged Israel seven years. Then Ibzan
36 died and was buried at Bethlehem.
So she said to him, “My father, if you have
given your word to the LORD, do to me accord- 11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Is-
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ing to what has gone out of your mouth, rael. He judged Israel ten years. And Elon
because the LORD has avenged you of your the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon
enemies, the people of Ammon.” Then she in the country of Zebulun.
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said to her father, “Let this thing be done for 13 After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the
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me: let me alone for two months, that I may go Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons
and wander on the mountains and bewail my and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy
virginity, my friends and I.” young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years.
38 So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for 15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite
two months; and she went with her friends, died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of
and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. Ephraim, in the mountains of the Amalekites.
And it was so at the end of two months that Psalm 50:7–15
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she returned to her father, and he carried out
his vow with her which he had vowed. She 7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak,
knew no man. O Israel, and I will testify against you;
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