What a barmy vow from the ninth judge of Israel?
Whatever 'possessed' him to say it to the Almighty God?
"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."
Judges 11:30-31.
The biblical narrative then goes on to say that "the LORD delivered them (Ammon) into his hand."
Job done, Jephthah journeys triumphantly back home...
"And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me, for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back."
Judges 11:34-35.
Mizpeh/Mizpah-(watchtower/lookout) is a town in Gilead.
Now, I know not what sort of household Jephthah maintained in Mizpeh, but I can only believe that being the 'king' of all Israel that it was not an insignificant dwelling place (not bedsit land!). He would have had many servants running the place, and it may be that he thought it would be one of these 'dispensable' hirelings that may have come "to meet me". Perhaps he had never once seen his only child near the front of his mansion? it may be that upon going to war with Ammon, he commissioned a guard to protect his household-a sentry at the front door? The guards may have allowed Jephthah's daughter to have the run of the place, ever having their watchful eye over her, but on the day of his return, she heard the returning cavalry, and the guards let her enthusiastically go out to meet her father? We can speculate on these things, but the Bible doesn't tell us any more than it does; in any event, Jephthah should never have made such a rash vow.
Our words have consequences, oftentimes things we say in jest come true! hence the secular proverb "many a true word spoken in jest." Certainly, the true Christian should have few words and choose them wisely (especially when praying to God), and before making any promissory undertaking to whomever, verbal or written, should make sure he can fulfill it.
"I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matt.12:36-37.
These "things were written aforetime were written for our learning .." Rom.15:4. "Now all these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come." 1 Cor.10:11 (RV).
Commentators are divided as to whether Jephthah actually offered up his daughter to the LORD for a "burnt offering" for such an "offering" was not prescribed in God's law, and would be an abomination to Him. Such sacrifices were pagan and were offered to Molech. Idolatry prevailed at the time of the Judges, Having said this, verse 39 says Jephthah "did with her according to his vow which he had vowed." Some think that Jephthah had a house built for his daughter where she lived in isolation perpetually "bewailing her virginity"; it is said that the convents were built to house nuns in the Romish tradition came from this account.
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