After the death of Joshua the Lord gave “judges” to lead the Children of Israel. Some of the judges were Deborah, Samson and Gideon. Jephthah was also a judge, and an unlikely one, because he was illegitimate. But Jephthah was a man of faith, who honored God. At this time the Ammonites were trying to take the land that the Lord had given to the Children of Israel. The story, and Jephthah’s response to the Ammonites, is found in Judges 11.

In Judges 11:29 we find that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. In the next verse we see Jephthah make what we would consider an impulsive vow. He vowed that if the Lord would give him victory over the Ammonites, whatever came out of the door to his house he would sacrifice as a burnt offering. This vow has troubled many Christians, because his daughter came dancing out of the house to greet him. We know that the Lord does not command or condone human sacrifice.

First of all, unless sheep and goats lived in his house, Jephthah must have considered that whatever came out the door would be a person. He probably expected a servant to be the first to appear. But the “burnt offering” aspect concerned me.

Let us consider the case of Hannah, who was unable to have children. She wanted a child so badly that she vowed if the Lord would bless her with a child, she would give the child to the Lord. Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Samuel the great prophet. When Samuel was weaned (I Samuel 1:24) Hannah took the child and a three year old bullock to the Tabernacle. There was no Temple at this time. Commentators have suggested children were nursed as long as three years in those times. The three year old bullock may be confirmation of Samuel’s age. She gave the child to Eli the priest for service to the Lord, and simultaneously, the bullock was sacrificed.

Sacrifice by burnt offering is the irrevocable giving of something of value to the Lord. Hannah gave Samuel irrevocably to the Lord. She only saw Samuel once a year when she would go to present offerings before the Lord. Hannah would make a tiny robe like that of the priests and take it to her little boy every year (I Samuel 2:18-19). The simultaneous gift of Samuel and the young bull to the Lord helps me understand the offering of Jephthah.

Jephthah sadly gave up his daughter, irrevocably, to the Lord. He did not burn her. He gave her to the Lord as a burnt offering, that is, as something given irrevocably to the Lord. As did Hannah, it is possible that Jephthah also gave a burnt offering simultaneously to the Lord. Jephthah was sad because his daughter was his only child. When he gave her to the Lord, apparently for service, he gave up his family and any hope for future descendants. His daughter was a virgin, and would be unable to provide Jephthah with any grandchildren.

I write this out of relief. I know the Lord would not appreciate a human sacrifice. I could not understand the sacrifice of Jephthah until I understood the sacrifice of Hannah. I hope this helps you to understand, also. Our God is good. Praise His Name!