Jephthah's Tragic Vow pt.. 2

After looking into it some more, there are some debates on this passage as to what it actually means.  Some commentators say this is not at all talking about human sacrifice, but merely the devoting of the daughter to religious service to God, presumably in the temple or likewise (this is what John Wesley says, and he notes Henrys' commentary below in doing so).  The word used for burnt offering, according to these commentators, can be used for this type of meaning also.  Also, she did not "bewail" death, but only her virginity, which may indicate that she was not being put to death, but merely about to vow an oath of chastity for the rest of her life in service to God and in honor of her father.

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights the differences of opinion among the commentators he knew, but in the end simply states that it is unclear and we cannot know for certain.

Among those who say it IS talking of a real sacrifice (the daughter is killed), some commend him for his faith (as Hebrews 11 would, though perhaps not for the killing, it is simply mentioned in passing) though it was manifested in a "deformed and imperfect" way (as Calvin calls it), and some condemn him for doing so (which is not consistent with Hebrews, though it is conceivably possible Hebrews references a different event in Jephthah's life, perhaps even one that is not mentioned in the Canon, but in other traditions, though unlikely).

Additionally, John Gill's commentary gives quite a good answer as I deem it.  I especially like the interpretation of the end where the girls of Israel are visiting the daughter yearly to comfort her in her solitude rather than lamenting her death, though I think my own desires for the meaning of the text may be an influence here.  I wish it not to be the case that he killed his daughter, but it may well be so.  

Regardless, the commentaries are enlightening, and explain the possibilities well.  I am a little bit comforted.

Jephthah's Tragic Vow

This is maybe one of the craziest stories in the Bible (Judges 11:29-40, it should be read in context).  I don't recall ever reading this in my life, but I came to it this morning.  Wow.  There are so many things to say of this, of which are these few observations:

• The mighty character of a man as to uphold a vow he made to the Lord, even at the greatest cost to himself and his family
  
• The risk that we take when we make a vow to God, especially when it's put on chance (or at least what seems to be chance)
• The value with which the daughter and the people of Israel held for virginity (perhaps almost too much)
• The trust the daughter had for her father
  
• The poor choice of a vow Jephthah made, and the sadness of this scene.  The final slaughter of the daughter is mentioned in a very soft way
  

Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever [4] comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it [5] up for a burnt offering.” So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand. And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. 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. And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.” And she said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.” So she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions.” So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.