Jephthah's daughter

James Tissot, Jephthah's Daughter, c. 1896-1902.

Jephthah's daughter is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, whose story is recounted in Judges 11. The judge Jephthah had just won a battle over the Ammonites, and vowed that he would offer the first thing that came out of his house as a burnt offering to Yahweh. However, his only child, an unnamed daughter, came out to meet him dancing and playing a tambourine (v. 34). She encourages Jephthah to fulfil his vow (v. 36) but asks for two months to weep for her virginity (v. 38). After this period of time Jephthah fulfilled his vow and offered his daughter.

The majority opinion among commentators is that Jepthah killed his daughter as an act of human sacrifice.[1] There is, however, a minority opinion that Jephthah spent the rest of her life in seclusion. This is based on considerations such as weeping for her virginity would make no sense she were about to die. Commentators holding to the minority view include David Kimchi,[2] Keil and Delitzsch,[3] and James B. Jordan.[4]

Jephthah's daughter is called "Adah" by the Order of the Eastern Star and is one of its five heroines, representing obedience to duty.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stone, Lawson (2016). Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Tyndale House. p. 358. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  2. ↑ Hirsch, Emil. "Jephthah (יפתח)". Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. ↑ Keil and Delitzsch. "Judges 11". Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Jordan, James (June 1996). "Jephthah's Daughter". Biblical Horizons. 86. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Eastern Star". Symbol Dictionary: A Visual Glossary. 26 Jan 2018.
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