Did Jephthah offer his daughter as a burnt offering?

Like ALL of us, Jephthah said something rarther foolish as a vow to the Lord, and it is clear from the passage, that he did offer his daughter as a burnt offering to the Lord. We should be very careful what we promise to the Lord!

 

Sad story.

we should all remember it before we speak

especially me

 

Well said

 

Judges 11:39-40, ". . . she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. . . ."
The Law, Deuteronomy 12:31, "Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods."
"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." This latter statement, there is no evidence that this was done beyond the life time of his daugher. Which suggests she was not killed.

 

I used to be of the opinion that Jephthah killed his daughter, but then I learned the law, and read the story more carefully.

First, it's untenable to think that God would have any part in the abomination of human sacrifice. (Yes, yes, many people will cite Abraham and Isaac here, but that actually proves my point. Isaac was NOT offered.) Second, the priest would reject Jephthah's daughter, if not for the horror that one could conceive of bringing his child to offer as a sacrifice, but because a Burnt Offering had to come from one's herds or flocks.

But let's say this was Jephthah's vow, and that God cared more that he kept his unlawful and abominable promise than he did for mercy and the sanctity of the altar and made an exception to receive the abominable practice of the worship of Molech just this once as an act of faith. (Because we all know what happened to Aaron's sons just for offering the wrong incense.) Jephthah had to bring her to the priest, and the priest had to lay his hands on her head, then kill her, skin her, cut off her head, disembowel her, wash her guts with water, cut her body into parts, and burn them all on the brazen altar. In addition, her blood would have to be sprinkled around the altar and the door of the Tabernacle.

If this were a lawful Burnt Offering, a sweet savor and acceptable unto the LORD.

The Law of the Burnt Offering opens the book of the Leviticus. Read it.

Second of all, I can't think that Jephthah was expecting to be met by his herds and flocks coming through the doors of his house.

I think that he was expecting to be met by his servants, who were his property. And I do not think that he was thinking of cutting them up and burning them on an altar either. It's just untenable, and not a faithful reading.

One thing that distinguishes the Burnt offering from the others, is that it was wholly burnt, not just parts of it. Also, like the meat and peace offerings, the Burnt Offering was not a sin offering. Many get confused because of the word 'atonement,' in the law here, but the faithful Israelite was not bringing a Burnt offering seeking forgiveness for sin.

The Burnt Offering was an act of worship and devotion. The faithful Israelite was offering a life, wholly dedicated to God, in the Burnt Offering.

I think Burnt Offering became a metonymy for one who was wholly dedicated to the work of God, as Samuel was dedicated by his mother.

 

I think what the silence of text serves as a warning that one should be mindful of oaths. The Law, Deuteronomy 23:22. And our Lord's instruction, Matthew 5:33-37.

 

That would render his vow null and void, and his fulfillment thereof an abomination. Jephthah would be a murderer. What does that also say of the willingness of his daughter and her companions to go through with this, instead of fleeing and crying out for protection?

 

I think he did, but I can't prove it.

 

Was it murder?

If not, why not?