Jephthah

Jephthah, also called Jephthah the Gileadite, is a figure in the Hebrew Bible who served as a judge of Israel during its period of internal and external strife. He is introduced as the son of Gilead by a prostitute, and after being driven away by his half-brothers, he gathers a band of adventurers and later returns when the elders of Gilead hire him to lead Israel against the Ammonites.

Jephthah defeats the Ammonites and makes a vow to the Lord: if he is granted victory, whatever comes out of the door of his house to meet him on his return shall be offered to the Lord as a burnt offering. Upon his triumph, his daughter—his only child—comes out to greet him with music. She mourns for two months, after which Jephthah fulfills his vow in a manner described by the text as making a burnt offering, though the exact nature of the vow and its fulfillment has been the subject of considerable scholarly discussion.

The narrative recounts Jephthah’s earlier and subsequent actions, including his leadership of Israel for six years and his involvement in conflicts with neighboring tribes, particularly the Ephraimites. The story of Jephthah is typically cited in discussions of rash vows, obedience, and the tragedy that can accompany zeal.

In biblical scholarship, Jephthah is recognized as a controversial and tragic figure within the Book of Judges, illustrating the complexities of vow-keeping and the moral ambiguities present in the biblical text.