1. Jephthah: The Unlikely Judge
The Cycle Pattern:
Israel sins 10:6-7a (Longer than normal)
Judgment 10:7b-9
Israel cries out to God 10:10
God ignores, then relents 10:11-16
God sends a deliverer 10:17ff [11:1]
Period of leadership 12:7
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2. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter
Four reasons advanced for her not being sacrificed:
Human sacrifice forbidden Lv 18:21; 20:2-5;
Dt 12:31; 18:10
No true priest would have officiated
An alternative was available 1 Sm 1:28 (Lv 27:1-8)
She seemed more concerned about not marrying
than dying
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3. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter
Basic reason advanced for her actual sacrifice:
Theme in Judges –
“everyone did what was right in their own eyes”
His vow: “whoever comes out… will be YHWH’s”
Some try to soften whoever to whatever
Only people are described as ‘coming out’
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4. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter
Concerns about vows:
Best to avoid if too difficult to carry out
Vows do not buy God’s favor, but once made
are very serious
God’s approval in one area does not mean
approval in all areas
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5. The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter
That Jephthah sacrificed his daughter is the most
natural reading
Objection to actual sacrifice view:
‘And she was a virgin’ 11:39
Why include if she was sacrificed?
Result: remained a virgin and served in tabernacle
Response to tabernacle view: Adds to tragedy &
reminds that his family line ends
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6. “I will sacrifice it” (11:31 NIV)
‫וְ הַ עֲליתהּו‬
ִ ִ
ְְ‫ו‬
‫ְעָ לָ ה‬
‫הְְְי‬
‫ת‬
‫הּו‬
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