Judges 11 - Samson's Birth and Calling | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
The Bible by David Alley · David Alley
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Show Notes
In this video listen to Judges 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 11 we meet Jepthah, the son of an Israelite and a Canaanite prostitute who becomes the eighth judge. There is a backstory to Jepthah that we know basically nothing of. His heroics with a band of outlaws sounds like King David who is to come, and he gets a reputation for bravery. He is asked to judge Israel. Jepthath ends up fighting Ammon who holds a grudge that is 300 years old and demands the return of land.
The reply of Jephthah to Ammon ends up proving very helpful in dating the early history of Israel and the juges, and also helps firm up the early position for the Exodus at 1446 BC. There is no resolution and they go to war. As Jepthah leaves his home, he vows to offer to God whatever greets him on his return in exchange for victory. This was a tragic mistake, and clearly he thought an animal was going to greet him as he returned home.
This is also a window into the rural lifestyle of the inhabitants of Israel. Instead his daughter greets him. Jepthah says “I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.” This phrase echoes a commitment to God which is binding. What a different world we would live in if people thought like Jepthah. Her response is to request permission, and then mourn her virginity for two months. This is an action that makes no sense if she was actually offered as a burnt offering.
Quite a few commentators think that she was redeemed with an animal sacrifice and then lived as a woman at the temple, never to marry. This is a real possibility and explains her actions here. The redeeming of the firstborn is an activity that fits this type of thing. Finally we learn there is an annual feast that remembers Jepthah’s daughter.
This feast makes a hero out of this woman, and also helps make Jepthah’s addition to the hall of fame in Hebrews 11:32 acceptable. Why would he be held up as a great hero if he killed his daughter, a thing which would have been hideous in the eyes of God?
We learn a few lessons from Jepthah - first about the foolishness of making vows. In the sermon on the mount Christ says to let your yes be yes and your no be no. (matt 5:37) We also learn the value of strong dedication to Christ that is unwavering. He did what he said he would do.