Jephthah is always one of the more interesting stories in the Bible to me. He is a judge who makes a hasty vow that comes at a great cost to his daughter. This is a cautionary tale to us to be careful of promises and vows. I was raised to take very seriously my promise, and if I promise something, I mean it. Our vows to God matter. Let me be clear, Jephthah is no hero in vows. But even in this, we can learn a lesson in Scripture.

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Yesterday was chaotic, preventing my usual office recording of Rooted. Today, you get a casual early morning edition, complete with a gravelly voice due to insufficient coffee. I apologize for the delayed upload, as yesterday’s chaos hindered recording.

Despite considering a text update, I felt compelled to discuss Jephthah, an intriguing figure, especially before my upcoming annual conference, which will take me out of pocket. Therefore, despite the delay, better late than absent. We’ll focus on Judges 11, particularly Jephthah’s story.

Jephthah, a mighty warrior, was the son of a prostitute, rejected by his brothers, and exiled to Tob. He became a leader of outlaws, a sort of Star Wars bounty hunter figure. When war broke out, the elders sought him out. He agreed to fight, demanding to be their leader as well. He won the battle and freed the Israelites, becoming their leader.

I want to focus on verses 29-38. The Spirit came upon Jephthah, and he vowed to God that whatever came out of his house to greet him upon his victorious return would be offered as a burnt offering. He defeated the Ammonites with a massive blow, from Ashur to the neighborhood of Mimsath, twenty towns to Abel Karmath.

Upon returning home to Mizpah, his daughter, his only child, greeted him with timbrels and dancing. He tore his clothes, lamenting the trouble he had brought upon himself because of his vow. She urged him to fulfill his vow, as God had granted him vengeance. She requested two months to mourn her virginity in the mountains with her companions. He granted her request. After two months, she returned, and he fulfilled his vow. This led to an Israelite custom where daughters would lament Jephthah’s daughter for four days each year.

Let’s unpack this. Jephthah, as a judge, made a vow before the battle, stating that whatever emerged from his house would be a burnt offering. This raises translation issues. The NRSV reads “to be offered up to me as a burnt sacrifice.” This passage has always struck me because my parents instilled in me the importance of keeping promises. Thus, I avoid making them lightly. Jephthah’s story always seemed to emphasize the dire consequence of breaking a vow to God, even at the expense of family.

However, upon closer examination of the Hebrew, there’s debate among scholars. The “to me” could also be translated as “or.” Bible translation is an art as much as a science, with words not always translating perfectly. This is why comparing translations is crucial. Online tools like the NET Bible can be helpful.

This debate means Jephthah’s daughter either became a burnt sacrifice (contradicting scripture’s strong stance against child sacrifice) or was dedicated to the Lord, like a nun. We don’t know for sure, but Jephthah serves as a powerful lesson: take promises to God seriously and don’t make them lightly.

Jephthah’s pride is evident when he blames his daughter for his trouble. No, he caused it. He made the promise. This serves as a cautionary tale. Like my parents’ advice, don’t promise unless you intend to keep it. John Wesley had individuals reflect on their conversions before acceptance. Lent exists to help Christians take their vows seriously. While we aren’t discussing literal child sacrifice or dedication, we shouldn’t make trivial promises to God.

As a minister, I take my vows seriously. As Christians, we all should. Church membership involves promises. Jephthah isn’t an example to emulate but a warning. He calls us to be mindful of our promises. I hope the translation of dedication is correct. Regardless, he took away his daughter’s agency. He made a rash promise. Think before you promise, and take it seriously.

Thanks for joining. See you next Monday. Have a great week.