The Story at Judges Chapter 11
Jephthah was a Gileadite, a clan out of Manasseh, and son of a prostitute. He was known as a mighty warrior. He is driven out of his homeland by his brothers due to having a different mother. Later, Amon comes up against Gilead, and the elders call upon Jephthah to save them. Jephthah agrees and makes a vow to God to assure victory. Jephthah vows that if God gives him the victory, he will offer as a sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house to greet him after the battle. God gives him the victory, and it is Jephthah’s only daughter that comes out to greet him. Jephthah keeps his vow by sacrificing his daughter.
Consistency in understanding Judges
Jephthah is the eighth judge (deliverer or savior) of Israel (not counting Abimelech). Each judge stands as a type of Christ in that they delivered Israel from the bondage of enemies (see John 8:34-36). Jephthah, as judge and deliverer of Israel, is not any different than the previous judges.
Comparative Analysis
Jephthah, as God, is a mighty warrior (Exodus 15:3). Jephthah, as Christ, has questionable beginnings (Matthew 1:18-19). Jephthah, like Christ, is rejected by his own brethren (John 1:11). Jephthah, like Christ, is called upon for deliverance (Matthew 8:25 and Acts 2:21). Jephthah, like God, has only one child (John 3:16). Jephthah, like God, promises a sacrifice for the people’s deliverance from their enemy (Genesis 12:1-4 and Galatians 3:8). Jephthah, like God, keeps his promise (Genesis 12:1-4 and John 19:30).
Conclusion
The student of truth must keep a disciplined mind when studying the Bible. Distractions only confuse and muddy the water of understanding. The issue of whether Jephthah sinned in vowing to sacrifice to God is a distraction. It is most certainly an important issue in most text, but it is not the focal matter here. The issue of whether Jephthah was wise by making such a vow is a distraction. The issue of Jephthah following through with the sacrifice is a distraction. Distractions do nothing but keep God’s people away from understanding.
The consistency of each Judge is teaching truth by way of repeated patterns. Focus on what matters. Jephthah, like God, kept his vow sacrificing his only child so that the people may be delivered (John 3:16). No one questions the morality or wisdom of God the Father permitting his Son to be sacrificed. Should we not have the same resolve toward these smaller models of Christ’s sacrifice? Let there be solemn praise to God for the love he showed delivering us from our sins by the sacrifice of his beloved Son.
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