Jephthah's Tragic Vow

Judges 11

29 Then m the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah n made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 "then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, o shall surely be the LORD's, p and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." 32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands. 33 And he 1 defeated them from Aroer as far as q Minnith - twenty cities - and to 2 Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 When Jephthah came to his house at r Mizpah, there was s his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he t tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I u have 3 given my word to the LORD, and v I cannot 4 go back on it." 36 So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, w do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because x the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon." 37 Then she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and 5 bewail my virginity, my 6 friends and I." 38 So he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he y carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She 7 knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to 8 lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

  1. Cross References
    Judges 3:10
    The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered CushanRishatha'im king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over CushanRishatha'im.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 28:20
    Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on.
    Numbers 30:2
    If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
    1 Samuel 1:11
    Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.
  3. Cross References
    Leviticus 27:2
    Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the LORD, according to your valuation.
    Leviticus 27:3
    If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
    Leviticus 27:28
    Nevertheless no devoted offering that a man may devote to the LORD of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the LORD.
    1 Samuel 1:11
    Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 66:13
    I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows.
  5. Cross References
    Ezekiel 27:17
    Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 10:17
    Then the people of Ammon gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled together and encamped in Mizpah.
    Judges 11:11
    Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 15:20
    Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
    1 Samuel 18:6
    Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
    Psalms 68:25
    The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
    Jeremiah 31:4
    Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 37:29
    Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
    Genesis 37:34
    Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
  9. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:2
    Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
    Ecclesiastes 5:4
    When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed -
    Ecclesiastes 5:5
    Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 30:2
    If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 30:2
    If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
  12. Cross References
    2 Samuel 18:19
    Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.
    2 Samuel 18:31
    Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 11:31
    "then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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