Jephthah and a sinister vow | Bible Stories

The story of Jephthah is a dramatic tale from the Book of Judges in the Old Testament. Jephthah was the son of Gilead but his mother was a prostitute, so Jephthah was driven out by his half-brothers and lived as an outcast. Despite this, Jephthah was a mighty warrior.

When the Ammonites waged war against Israel, the elders of Gilead asked Jephthah to be their leader and defeat the Ammonites. Jephthah agreed on one condition - that he would be the ruler of Gilead if victorious. Before battle, Jephthah made a rash vow to God - if given victory, he would sacrifice as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of his house when he returned.

Jephthah was victorious but to his horror, his daughter was the first to come out to meet him with timbrels and dancing when he came home. Jephthah tore his clothes in anguish but his daughter insisted he fulfill his vow. After two months for her to wander the mountains with her friends to mourn her virginity, Jephthah sacrificed his daughter as promised.

This story illustrates the tragic consequences when vows and oaths are made rashly without considering what they may require. It is a sobering lesson in making solemn promises and also a portrait of a devoted daughter determined to see her father's word kept.