Jepthah: A Man of Great Faith?
In Sunday School we have been studying faith, which has involved study of Hebrews 11. I was reading through the passage and in verse 32 I see the name Jepthah listed as a man of great faith. I’m embarrassed to say that the story of Jepthah did not leap into my mind, so off I went to Judges 11 to read his story. I figure if he is listed among those of great faith then I needed to read his story with close attention.
Once I got to Judges 11 I remember the story as the “guy who vowed to give the 1st thing that came out of his house as a sacrifice to the Lord.” Isn’t that such a typical Sunday School answer? There is so much more there.
First of all, I did not realize that Jepthah was a mighty warriror, I also did not realize that he was the son of a prostitute. Because of his mother, he is treated poorly by his half brothers and eventually exiled from his family completely. They looked down on him because of his mother, and would not share their father’s inheritance with him. They send him away to Tob. At this point in the story I already start to feel some conviction. I was forced to inspect my own prejudices. Are there people I look down on for reasons they cannot even help? I know I have had instant thoughts about people based solely on who their parents are or where they have been. It’s not right or Christ-like, I’m thankful that this story brought this issue into the forefront of my mind.
So after his brothers treat him cruelly, the Ammonites begin to make war against Israel, and the elders of Gilead want the strong warrior Jepthah to come back and help them. He is skeptical at first, and I can’t say that I blame him. He makes them swear before the Lord that if they are delivered from the Ammonites that they will make him their head, and the elders of Gilead agree. Jepthah then begins to correspond with the Ammonites in hope of creating peace between the two countries.
After some ineffective correspondence with the Ammonites verse 29 it tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jepthah” and in verse 30-31 we see Jepthah’s tragic vow “If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand, Then whatever or whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it or him up as a burnt offering.” This is where I have some questions with my Sunday School answer. I remember being taught that he made “an ill-advised vow”, or that he “should have thought more carefully about his vow” but now I’m wondering if that is the point of the story. I’m hoping some of you will have an opinion and share it with me, and I’ll add some of the ideas into the conclusion of this piece.
Where is his great faith shown in this story?
If the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, could he have been led by the Spirit to make this vow?
Does his vow show a lack of faith? Should he have just trusted the Lord to give him the Ammonites without offering something to God?
I appreciate any feedback on this story!
Diane Heeney
1287 days ago
Keri, I have been curious a time or two as well about Jephthah’s “faith”…this is from Gill’s Exposition:”…and of Jephthah;the Syriac version calls him “Nepthe”, and the Arabic version “Naphtah”; he was base born; and, for a time, joined himself to vain men, but became a believer; and is marked for his faith, in ascribing the conquests of Israel in the wilderness to the Lord; in fighting with the Ammonites, whom he conquered; and in his conscientiousness, in observing his vow, (Judges 11:30-40).”I read another commentator who suggested that since Jephthah was included in the “hall of faith”, he surely would not have actually offered his daughter and burned her body as a sacrifice…you’ve seen the other theories on that, I assume. Good to see this post. Thanks for making me think. =)
Dave Wolfe
1283 days ago
I don’t personally think his vow shows lack of faith. Here’s the big picture, if God didn’t give Jepthah the Ammonites there wouldn’t be a Jepthah around to give an offering. I think a modern comparison would be a hostage situation where a police officer about to storm a building says, “God if you give me the bad guy, I’ll give you the first thing that comes out my front door.” Obviously, not thought through, but look, the guy went into a building where he could get killed!Except in this case, all of Jepthah’s family could be killed…Second point, in this situation, most of us say, “Lord, You know that’s not what I meant…” and never thought another thing about it.
Jerome
1146 days ago
Many Bible commentators tell us that Jepthah offered his daughter not as a burnt offering but by service to the Temple. She was to remain unmarried and wait on the temple. This explains the verse “did with her according to his vow which he had vowed, and she knew no man” (v. 39)Refer: http://www.jba.gr/Articles/jbadec06b.htm