As Jephthah prepared to fight, Jehovah’s spirit came upon him. So Jephthah was not being rash or foolish when he made this vow to Jehovah: “If you give the Ammonites into my hand, then whoever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites will become Jehovah’s, and I will offer that one up as a burnt offering.”

Did Jephthah mean that he would literally burn up a human? Of course not. Jehovah detested and forbade the practice of human sacrifice. (Deut. 18:10, 12) Rather, Jephthah meant that the person who emerged first from his house would “become Jehovah’s” in the sense of being completely devoted to His service, likely at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Jephthah knew that his vow might prove costly. He had only one child, a beloved daughter. She might well be the one who would greet him upon his return.

Jephthah returned home triumphant. Perhaps he had begun to hope that a servant would emerge from the house first. If so, such hopes were dashed. The first person to come out was his daughter, dancing and playing the tambourine! Grieved, Jephthah ripped his garments and cried: “Oh no, my daughter! You have broken my heart, for you have become the one I have banished.”

Jephthah’s daughter grasped what her father’s vow meant for her. She would be fully devoted to Jehovah’s sacred service. Thus, she could never marry or bear children; for women of Israel, that was a calamity. Yet, this young girl bravely assured her father: “If you have opened your mouth to Jehovah, do to me as you have promised.” She asked only that she be allowed to spend some time alone with her friends to grieve over her loss of any prospect of marriage or motherhood.

Jephthah’s daughter received both comfort and commendation. Each year, the young women of Israel spent four days commending that selfless and courageous woman! And her service at the sacred tabernacle surely had its rewards. Likely around that time, the young boy Samuel lived there. Did Jephthah’s daughter get to help train and encourage him as he grew up? We do not know. If she did, that may have given her great joy, since she did not have a child of her own. We do know, though, that there was a problem with immorality at the tabernacle in those days. (1 Sam. 2:22) Did Jephthah’s daughter get involved in sexual misconduct? No. The inspired record says: “She never had relations with a man.”

The apostle Paul listed Jephthah among men and women of great faith. (Heb. 11:32) Both Jephthah and his daughter left a sterling example of courage. He fought for God’s people, and she fully supported him. Together, they fulfilled a difficult vow to Jehovah!

2. 2. How was Jephthah’s attitude similar to that of Jacob when he made a vow to Jehovah? (it “Jephthah” ¶11)

   Your answer

3. 3. Why was it a real sacrifice for Jephthah to fulfill his vow? (w17.04 4 ¶6)