Human Sacrifice in Judges 11

[Caveman]

A very confusing chapter, I can't wrap my head around...

“Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. 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, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.” – Judges 11:29-32

“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

“And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. 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.” – Judges 11:36-40

Why didn’t God stop Jephthah from making the promise in the first place?
Why didn’t God stop Jephthah from killing his daughter?
Would Jephthah have won the battle if he hadn’t made the promise?

Was it to teach a lesson of "be careful what you vow"?

[Steve53]

http://www.gotquestions.org/Jephthahs-daughter.html

Question: "Did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter to the Lord?"

Answer: A judge of Israel, Jephthah, had made a foolish vow to the Lord that if God gave him victory in battle, he would sacrifice whatever first came out of his door when he came home (Judges 11:30-31). Jephthah’s daughter was the first thing to come of out his door when he came home (Judges 11:34). The Bible never specifically tells us whether Jephthah actually sacrificed his daughter as a burnt offering. Judges 11:39 seems to indicate that he did, "he did to her as he had vowed." However, since his daughter was mourning the fact that she would never marry instead of mourning that she was about to die (Judges 11:37-37), possibly indicates that Jephthah gave her to the tabernacle as a servant instead of sacrificing her.

Whatever the case, God had specifically forbidden offering human sacrifices, so God never would have wanted Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter (Leviticus 20:1-5). Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5, and 32:35 clearly indicate that the idea of human sacrifice has "never even entered God's mind." Jephthah serves as an example for us, not to make foolish vows or oaths.

[Caveman]

Thx steve,
I just finished doing more research and found more corroboration.

Good to see my 1st impression was basically the correct one ( "be careful what you vow")

http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bibl...ephthahs-oath/

A. There’s no reason to doubt the accuracy of the passage. But as you read it, notice there was no participation from the Lord in this matter at all. He neither sought the oath nor did he agree to it. The sacrifice of children was expressly forbidden (Deut. 18:10), and besides He had already determined to give Jephthah the victory, having sent His Holy Spirit to guide him (Judges 11:29). All we know is that Jephthah made the oath and felt obligated to perform on it. Upon learning of this, his daughter agreed even though doing so would require her life. Jephthah’s great victory was swallowed up in personal tragedy. But it wasn’t God’s doing.

Later, Jesus warned us against making oaths to God, saying we should just do what we say we’ll do. He said anything beyond that comes from the evil one. (Matt. 5:33-37) Paul said that everything that was written in the past was written for our learning (Romans 15:4) so we’re supposed to learn from Jephthah’s mistake and refuse to make deals with God. All they can do is give the evil one a way to steal our victory

[lancelim]

does God condone human sacrifice just like the aztecs? because i saw the story that jepthah prayed to God to give him victory that he shall sacrifice to Him whatever he finds first. of course it turned out his daughter welcoming him, unable to fail to keep his promises, jepthah sacrificed his daughter? how does the bible explain this happening?

[Hootmon]

http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?1425...e-in-Judges-11

Personally, Id opt for the 'temple servant' explaination.

[Mtown]

Never mind. I had to look up what condone means and I thought it meant forbid.


Let me change what I meant.... God forbids human sacrifice. Better?

[Verisimilitude]

Jephthahs daughter bewailed her virginity for two months, not her life. Additionally, there is no record in the Bible of any human sacrifice to the True God, with the exception of our Savior Jesus.

There is/was a concept called "corban". This was a practice of setting something apart to the Lord, "gifting" it to the Lord, without actually giving it over. It was more of a foreswearing of the use of something and is the subject of Mark 7:11-12. I believe based on all these things that Jephthahs daughter was considered corban. Set apart for and to the Lord. She was sacrificed in that she was not allowed the pleasures of a married woman, especially children. This was the most that could be done as human sacrifice was never acceptable to the Lord.

[HeIsEnough]

does God condone human sacrifice just like the aztecs?

I'm curious...do you jump to conclusions like that often? Seriously.

[Mtown]

http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?1425...e-in-Judges-11

Personally, Id opt for the 'temple servant' explaination.

I find that an interesting and plausible explaination. My first thoughts were that he made a foolish promise and perhaps had done something not mentioned that God did not like. Also as an example of something not to do.

I could get over zealous and be thankful for something say like a new contract or something and then say because of this I will give all my money to the church and God! But then reality hits and I can't make it and lose my house, car, and the new contract.

[Hootmon]

...an example of something not to do.

The whole point of that story was that making a rash vow was a bad idea, IMO.

The whole notion of 'swearing to God' is way more serious than most people take it today. It has consequences...

[Kliska]

My preacher was always sure to teach Hebrews Chapter 11 alongside Judges 11, because it is not a simple story.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

While the specifics of his vow were not good, Jephthae was a mighty man of faith, who trusted God. Whichever the outcome of his vow (the sacrifice of his daughter, or him sending her into temple service), his is counted worthy through his faith to be held up to us as a model of what our faith should look like. The only caveat is that God doesn't required anything extra, just faith.

[Deb101]

My preacher was always sure to teach Hebrews Chapter 11 alongside Judges 11, because it is not a simple story.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae;<snip>

While the specifics of his vow were not good, Jephthae was a mighty man of faith, who trusted God. Whichever the outcome of his vow (the sacrifice of his daughter, or him sending her into temple service), his is counted worthy through his faith to be held up to us as a model of what our faith should look like. The only caveat is that God doesn't required anything extra, just faith.

I never noticed Jeph was there in chapter 11. That is really comparing Scripture with Scripture. Ty

[ReadytoGoNow]

and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection

I never really got this either. I understand faithful unto death, but we don't need to be tortured to be faithful.

[Kliska]

I never really got this either. I understand faithful unto death, but we don't need to be tortured to be faithful.

Notice it didn't say that the deliverance offered didn't come with a price tag; for example, "deny your God and we'll let you go/quit torturing you," etc... It doesn't say either way, so there is probably a good reason they denied the deliverance since other believers gladly accepted deliverance.

[ReadytoGoNow]

Thank you Kliska. That makes sense.