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Judges · around 1100 BC

Jephthah in the Bible

The outcast who became the deliverer of Gilead. Name meaning: “He opens” (probable meaning); the Bible calls him “Jephthah the Gileadite” (Judg 11:1)

The son of a prostitute, driven out by his half-brothers, Jephthah the Gileadite is living in exile in the land of Tob when the elders of Gilead come begging him to lead their war against the Ammonites. The Spirit of the LORD comes upon him and God gives him victory, but a vow he made on the way costs him his only daughter. He judges Israel for six years, and the letter to the Hebrews counts him among those whom faith made “valiant in fight” (Heb 11:32-34).

Main books: Judges

Key moments

  • Driven out by his half-brothers, he flees to the land of Tob Judges 11:2–3
  • The elders of Gilead come to get him Judges 11:5–6
  • The Spirit of the LORD comes upon him Judges 11:29
  • His vow: to offer as a burnt offering whatever comes out of his house Judges 11:30–31
  • His only daughter comes out first to meet him Judges 11:34
  • Ephraim defeated: the word Shibboleth Judges 12:5–6
  • Named among those whom faith made valiant Hebrews 11:32

Strengths

  • Valor
  • Eloquence
  • Faith
  • Determination

Weaknesses

Jephthah makes a hasty vow without knowing who will be the first to walk out of his house (Judg 11:30-31), even though the Spirit of the LORD was already upon him (11:29). The Law calls for keeping vows, but also for weighing one’s words (Deut 23:21-23; Eccl 5:4-5): he pays the heaviest price for it (Judg 11:35-39).

Lessons for today

  • God uses those whom people have rejected: driven out of his father’s house, Jephthah becomes the deliverer of Gilead (Judg 11:2, 11, 32).
  • Before taking up arms, Jephthah tries words and lays out the facts: honest dialogue is better than violence when it is still possible (Judg 11:12-27).
  • God gives his grace without bargaining: the Spirit was already on Jephthah when he made his vow, and the victory did not depend on it (Judg 11:29-32).
  • A word spoken before God is binding: better not to vow at all than to vow lightly (Eccl 5:4-5; Deut 23:21-23).
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.
Judges 11:29
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.
Judges 11:30–31
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 11:35

People around Jephthah

  • Gilead — His father, who fathered him with a prostitute
  • His daughter — His only child, not named
  • The elders of Gilead — Leaders of the people who come to call him back from Tob
  • Gideon — A judge before him, called Jerubbaal in 1 Sam 12:11
  • Samson — Named with him in the list in Hebrews 11:32
  • Samuel — Named with him among the deliverers of Israel (1 Sam 12:11)

Stories with Jephthah

Quiz: how well do you know Jephthah?

Against which people does Jephthah lead the Gileadites?

Who is the first to come out of Jephthah’s house when he returns from the war?

What vow does Jephthah make to the LORD before the battle?

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