Did Jephthah offer his daughter as a burnt offering?

[5 point Gillinist]

In Judges 11:30-31 Jephthah makes a very foolish vow to offer whatever comes out of the doors of his house to meet him as a burnt offering.

I don't personally believe that he intended human sacrifice, but it ends up later in v.34 that it is his daughter.
He then states in v.35 that he cannot take back his vow.
In v.39 it then states that he did to her according to the vow that he made.

Now there is disagreement as to whether he offered her as a burnt offering or devoted her to perpetual virginity.
I personally believe that he misguidedly offered her as a burnt offering, but I am curious to know what others' thoughts are on the subject.

 

[SavedByGrace]

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!

 

[Marooncat79]

Sad story.

we should all remember it before we speak

especially me

 

[5 point Gillinist]

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!

I always used to feel inadequate compared to all the great heroes in the faith recorded in the bible. Then I heard someone say that the bible is quite careful to tar and feather every single person, righteous and unrighteous - recording their sins, and that the only one who was/is perfect is Christ. Now when I read the bible I still feel inadequate, but I see that they were too, and that ALL in the bible and after the bible are in desperate need of God's grace.

 

[SavedByGrace]

I always used to feel inadequate compared to all the great heroes in the faith recorded in the bible. Then I heard someone say that the bible is quite careful to tar and feather every single person, righteous and unrighteous - recording their sins, and that the only one who was/is perfect is Christ. Now when I read the bible I still feel inadequate, but I see that they were too, and that ALL in the bible and after the bible are in desperate need of God's grace.

Well said

 

[37818]

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.

 

[Aaron]

In Judges 11:30-31 Jephthah makes a very foolish vow to offer whatever comes out of the doors of his house to meet him as a burnt offering.

I don't personally believe that he intended human sacrifice, but it ends up later in v.34 that it is his daughter.
He then states in v.35 that he cannot take back his vow.
In v.39 it then states that he did to her according to the vow that he made.

Now there is disagreement as to whether he offered her as a burnt offering or devoted her to perpetual virginity.
I personally believe that he misguidedly offered her as a burnt offering, but I am curious to know what others' thoughts are on the subject.

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.

 

[Scarlett O.]

You've got to remember, this is the book of Judges. "Everyone did what was right in their own eyes." It says that more than once. I think it says it three times.

People during that time, INCLUDING the judges, had bouts of behaving and thinking as nutty as a fruitcake. As do we. The Bible isn't about showing us characters that are all pious and holy and do-gooders. The Bible is about people who err and err LARGE sometimes. As do we. Yet people who err - even LARGE - can be saved, made righteous, and God will pursue them.

We cannot put any of them on a pedestal. Yet people do so all the time.

What did he think was going to come out of his door to greet him? A sheep? A goat? Did he have animals living in his house? Even if he did, did he not understand his daughter would be coming out to greet him as she did? Did that never cross his mind? DID THAT NEVER CROSS HIS MIND?

I believe, since the Bible claims it to be so, that "he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed."

Tragic. Avoidable. I wonder if David had Jephthah in mind when he wrote Psalm 15:4. "...but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts....."

 

[5 point Gillinist]

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 can absolutely see a strong argument in favor of this, and I certainly hope that that was truly the case. But it would seem that v.39 would seem to very clear that he did to her what he vowed. Commemorate (NASB '95) is to recall something, and to Lament (KJV) is to express grief or sorrow. It would seem that the daughters of Israel possibly went to mourn the fact that she died a virgin and thus ended the line of Jephthah?
Unfortunately, those in the bible (as well as all throughout history who worship God) seem to have frequently had zeal that outpaced wisdom. Perhaps Jephthah took his rash worship of God to a sinful extreme, due to this lack of wisdom?
I agree there is no evidence that this yearly commemoration/lament continued, but neither did obedience to the Lord after the death of a Judge. Just my thoughts though. I would be happy to be wrong about this.

 

[5 point Gillinist]

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.

Many might cite Isaac as you said, but I certainly wouldn't either.

I don't think God cared more about fulfilling the vow, I absolutely believe that God detested the act (if it was in fact carried out).

I actually did a study of Leviticus last year ( a very exhausting book btw), and I would agree with all of your points. And you make a VERY strong case. However, at this point in time, Israel was very quick to apostatize - I don't know to what extent the priesthood stayed loyal, but we do see by Jesus time it was incredibly corrupt, and I do believe (though I could be mistaken) that at times it ceased to exist.

 

[5 point Gillinist]

Many might cite Isaac as you said, but I certainly wouldn't either.

I don't think God cared more about fulfilling the vow, I absolutely believe that God detested the act (if it was in fact carried out).

I actually did a study of Leviticus last year ( a very exhausting book btw), and I would agree with all of your points. And you make a VERY strong case. However, at this point in time, Israel was very quick to apostatize - I don't know to what extent the priesthood stayed loyal, but we do see by Jesus time it was incredibly corrupt, and I do believe (though I could be mistaken) that at times it ceased to exist.

To elaborate upon my prior comment Hophni and Phineas were two very wicked priests who desecrated the Lord's temple. God eventually took their lives but until then they did many wicked things in the temple (tent).
So would it be so far-fetched as to suppose that there would have been priests that would have carried out such a wicked act? It doesn't seem as if the priesthood itself was on the ball about leading Israel in the worship of the Lord at that time.

 

[37818]

I can absolutely see a strong argument in favor of this, and I certainly hope that that was truly the case. But it would seem that v.39 would seem to very clear that he did to her what he vowed. Commemorate (NASB '95) is to recall something, and to Lament (KJV) is to express grief or sorrow. It would seem that the daughters of Israel possibly went to mourn the fact that she died a virgin and thus ended the line of Jephthah?
Unfortunately, those in the bible (as well as all throughout history who worship God) seem to have frequently had zeal that outpaced wisdom. Perhaps Jephthah took his rash worship of God to a sinful extreme, due to this lack of wisdom?
I agree there is no evidence that this yearly commemoration/lament continued, but neither did obedience to the Lord after the death of a Judge. Just my thoughts though. I would be happy to be wrong about this.

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.

 

[Aaron]

I don't think God cared more about fulfilling the vow, I absolutely believe that God detested the act (if it was in fact carried out).

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?

 

[Reynolds]

In Judges 11:30-31 Jephthah makes a very foolish vow to offer whatever comes out of the doors of his house to meet him as a burnt offering.

I don't personally believe that he intended human sacrifice, but it ends up later in v.34 that it is his daughter.
He then states in v.35 that he cannot take back his vow.
In v.39 it then states that he did to her according to the vow that he made.

Now there is disagreement as to whether he offered her as a burnt offering or devoted her to perpetual virginity.
I personally believe that he misguidedly offered her as a burnt offering, but I am curious to know what others' thoughts are on the subject.

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

 

[Aaron]

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

Was it murder?

If not, why not?