Judges 11: Jephthah leads Gilead against Ammon, and his vow
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What happens?
Jephthah, a mighty warrior and the son of a prostitute, is driven out by his half brothers and lives in the land of Tob. When Ammon attacks, the elders of Gilead ask him to lead them, and he agrees on the terms that he will be their head. He sends the king of Ammon a long message about how Israel came to hold the land, but the king will not listen. Yahweh's Spirit comes on Jephthah, and he vows that whatever (or: whoever) comes out of his house to meet him when he comes back will be Yahweh's, and he will offer it up as a burnt offering. Yahweh gives Ammon into his hand. His only child, his daughter, comes out to meet him; she asks for two months on the mountains with her friends to weep for her virginity, and then he does to her as he had vowed. The daughters of Israel go every year for four days to remember her.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Jephthah's half brothers speak in verse 2. Jephthah and the elders of Gilead bargain in verses 6 to 10. Jephthah's messengers carry his words to the king of Ammon in verse 12 and verses 15 to 27, and the king answers in verse 13; inside his message, Israel's own words to Edom and to Sihon are given in verses 17 and 19. Jephthah makes his vow to Yahweh in verses 30 and 31. Jephthah and his daughter speak in verses 35 to 38. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead became the father of Jephthah.
In plain English: Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior (this Bible: a mighty man of valor). He was the son of a prostitute (literally: a woman, a prostitute). Gilead was Jephthah's father.
The Hebrew words: "A prostitute" is zonah, from zanah, which the dictionary gives as "to commit adultery". This Bible says "prostitute" or a longer form in 77 of the 81 verses that use zanah. Rahab is called by the same word in .
What changes: Read as "a prostitute", his mother was a woman who sold herself. Read with the dictionary's "to commit adultery", she may have been a woman who was unfaithful, and not Gilead's wife. Either way, in verse 2 his half brothers call him "the son of another woman" and drive him out.
Good to know: Gilead is the name of a region east of the Jordan and also of a man. names an earlier Gilead, the grandson of Manasseh. Here the text calls Jephthah's father Gilead, and verse 2 speaks of Gilead's wife and her sons.
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2Gilead’s wife bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.”
In plain English: Gilead's wife bore him sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, "You will have no inheritance in our father's house, because you are the son of another woman."
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3Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him.
In plain English: So Jephthah ran away from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Worthless men (literally: empty men; this Bible: outlaws) gathered around Jephthah, and they went out with him.
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4After a while, the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
In plain English: Some time later (literally: after days), the Ammonites made war against Israel.
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5When the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob.
In plain English: When the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
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6They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”
In plain English: They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our commander (this Bible: chief), so that we can fight the Ammonites."
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7Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?”
In plain English: Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now, when you are in trouble?"
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8The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the children of Ammon. You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
In plain English: The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have come back to you now. Come with us and fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over everyone who lives in Gilead."
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9Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivers them before me, will I be your head?”
In plain English: Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me back home to fight the Ammonites, and Yahweh gives them over to me, will I be your head (or: then I am to be your head)?"
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10The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.”
In plain English: The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Yahweh will be the witness (literally: the one who hears) between us. We will surely do as you say."
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11Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.
In plain English: So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander (this Bible: chief) over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh at Mizpah.
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12Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, “What do you have to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”
In plain English: Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, "What do you have against me (literally: what is to me and to you), that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
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13The king of the children of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore restore that territory again peaceably.”
In plain English: The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, "Because Israel took my land when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan. So now give it back peacefully."
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14Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon;
In plain English: Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites,
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15and he said to him, “Jephthah says: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon;
In plain English: and said to him, "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.
Good to know: Jephthah's message in verses 15 to 27 retells what Numbers tells: Edom would not let Israel pass ( to ), Israel camped beyond the Arnon, "the border of Moab" (), and Israel took Sihon's land "from the Arnon to the Jabbok" ( to ). and say Yahweh told Israel not to take the land of Moab or of Ammon.
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16but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh,
In plain English: But when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea (literally: the Sea of Reeds) and came to Kadesh.
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17then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let me pass through your land;’ but the king of Edom didn’t listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab, but he refused; so Israel stayed in Kadesh.
In plain English: Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let me pass through your land,' but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent to the king of Moab in the same way, but he was not willing. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
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18Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
In plain English: Then they went through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They came along the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not go into the territory of Moab, because the Arnon was the border of Moab.
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19Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’
In plain English: Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, 'Please let us pass through your land to my own place.'
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20But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
In plain English: But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people, camped at Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
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21Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
In plain English: Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into Israel's hand, and they struck them down. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country.
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22They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.
In plain English: They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
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23So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?
In plain English: So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel. Should you take possession of it?
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24Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.
In plain English: Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And whoever Yahweh our God has driven out before us, them we will possess.
Good to know: Jephthah speaks to the king of Ammon of "Chemosh your god". In the other 7 verses that name Chemosh, he is the god of Moab (, ), and names Molech for Ammon and Milcom. The text does not explain this, and readers explain it in different ways.
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25Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?
In plain English: Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel, or did he ever fight against them?
Good to know: Balak king of Moab sent for Balaam to curse Israel (), but Numbers tells of no battle between him and Israel.
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26Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along the side of the Arnon for three hundred years! Why didn’t you recover them within that time?
In plain English: Israel has lived in Heshbon and its towns (literally: its daughters), in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon for three hundred years. Why did you not take them back in all that time?
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27Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May Yahweh the Judge be judge today between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.”
In plain English: So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war on me. May Yahweh the Judge judge today between the Israelites and the Ammonites."
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28However, the king of the children of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
In plain English: But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words Jephthah sent him.
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29Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
In plain English: Then Yahweh's Spirit (or: spirit) came on Jephthah. He crossed through Gilead and Manasseh, crossed to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he crossed over to the Ammonites.
The Hebrew word: "Spirit" is ruach, the same word for wind, breath and spirit (see the notes on and ). The same words, "Yahweh's Spirit came on", are used of Othniel in . Of Gideon, uses a different word: the Spirit "clothed" him (see the note there).
Good to know: The text says that the Spirit came on Jephthah, and then tells where he went. It tells of his vow next, in verse 30, and does not link the vow to the Spirit.
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30Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, “If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,
In plain English: Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh and said, "If you will really give the Ammonites into my hand,
Good to know: The vow is Jephthah's own. The text does not say that Yahweh asked for it, and Yahweh speaks no words about it in the text. Verse 32 says only that Yahweh gave the Ammonites into his hand.
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31then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
In plain English: then whatever (or: whoever) comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I come back safely (literally: in peace) from the Ammonites will be Yahweh's, and I will offer it (or: him) up as a burnt offering (some read "and" here as "or")."
The Hebrew words: "Whatever comes out" is literally "the one coming out who comes out". The Hebrew can be used of an animal or of a person, so it can be read "whatever" or "whoever", and "offer it up" can be read "offer him up". "Burnt offering" is olah, which the dictionary gives as "a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)". This Bible says "burnt offering" or a longer form in 257 of the 262 verses that use it.
What changes: Read as "whatever", Jephthah may have had an animal in mind; read as "whoever", a person. Read the way this Bible has it, "and I will offer it up as a burnt offering", what comes out will be offered on the altar. Some readers take the little word "and" as "or": it will belong to Yahweh, or, if it can be offered, he will offer it as a burnt offering. Read that way, a person would be given to Yahweh for life, not offered on the altar.
Good to know: The law speaks of a man who "consecrates a person to Yahweh in a vow" (), and Hannah later vows to give her son "to Yahweh all the days of his life" (). condemns those who "burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods", and forbids anyone who "makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire". The text of Judges does not say which way Jephthah meant his vow.
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32So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.
In plain English: So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight them, and Yahweh gave them into his hand.
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33He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
In plain English: He struck them down from Aroer as far as Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel Keramim (this Bible: Abelcheramim), with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were brought low (this Bible: subdued) before the Israelites.
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34Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
In plain English: Then Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. She was his only child. Apart from her he had no son or daughter.
The Hebrew word: "Only child" is yachid, which the dictionary gives as "properly, united, i.e. sole; by implication, beloved". It is the word for Isaac, "your only son", in , and .
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35When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”
In plain English: When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Oh, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me. I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I cannot take it back (literally: turn back)."
Good to know: says of a man who vows a vow to Yahweh, "he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." Jephthah's daughter uses the same picture in verse 36: "that which has proceeded out of your mouth".
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36She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.”
In plain English: She said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh. Do to me what you said you would (literally: what has gone out of your mouth), now that Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites."
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37Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.”
In plain English: Then she said to her father, "Let this be done for me: leave me alone for two months, so that I may set off and go down to the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my friends (this Bible: companions)."
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38He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
In plain English: He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months. She went, she and her friends, and wept for her virginity on the mountains.
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39At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. She was a virgin. It became a custom in Israel
In plain English: At the end of two months she came back to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed (literally: according to his vow which he had vowed). She had never been with a man (literally: she had not known a man). It became a custom in Israel
Good to know: The text says her father "did with her according to his vow which he had vowed", and it does not say what was done. Read with the burnt offering of verse 31, he offered her up. Read with "it will be Yahweh's", he gave her to Yahweh for life, and "she had not known a man" and her weeping for her virginity (verses 37 and 38) are about a life without marriage. The text does not praise or blame Jephthah for what he did.
Church tradition: Jewish and Christian readers have read the vow in both ways. names Jephthah in its list of people of faith, with Gideon, Barak, Samson, David and Samuel, and does not speak of the vow.
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40that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
In plain English: that every year the daughters of Israel went to remember (this Bible: celebrate) the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in the year.
The Hebrew word: "To celebrate" is tanah, which the dictionary gives as "to ascribe (praise), i.e. celebrate, commemorate". It is in only 2 verses: here and , where this Bible says "rehearse" (tell again) Yahweh's righteous acts. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "to bewail" here.
What changes: Read as "celebrate" or "tell again", the daughters of Israel went to honor her and tell her story. Read as "bewail", they went to mourn her. Either way, the text says they went four days every year.
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