Jephthah Sacrifices His Daughter To Give Thanks to Jahweh

The Fun Bible Story of
JEPTHAH SACRIFICES HIS DAUGHTER TO
THANK GOD FOR VICTORY

WARNING: THE JEPTHAH SACRIFICE STORY IS NOT USUALLY TOLD TO CHILDREN.

Jepthah prepares to sacrifice his teen daughter to thank God for Victory

COMMENTARY
Bible literalists have a big problem with the Jepthah story for obvious reasons. This provides some fun reading among the Fundamentalist scholars, as they argue that the story says something different than what it says. In this case, they argue that Jepthah didn't really sacrifice his daughter, but rather committed her to a life of service to Jahweh (whatever that may involve). The problem is, that's not what the text says.

11:39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. Dude! It's God's literal word. Deal with it.

It's important to remember that the sacrifice is made to the Lord, i.e. Jahweh. If Jahweh objects to it, it would seem reasonable that he would put a stop to it. The head diety of the Bronze Age Holy Land totally does not hesitate to intercede in every little thing that aggravates him, even the spilling of a little seed. In this period of Biblical history, Jahweh is still very much micro managing the Chosen.

MORAL ISSUE: Beginning with Noah's sacrifice of the animals he took onto the Ark, there is an obsession with sacrifices on the part of Jahweh. In historical reality, this is simply due to the fact that much of the Old Testament was written by temple scribes, who would have also been priests. In reality, the sacrifices were not to God, but for the livelihood of the priests. Put another way, the sacrifices were the priests' livelihood. This was what they ate, and it essentially amounted to a tax on the people.

Many of the confusing elements of the Old Testament are due to disputes between two sets of priests, essentially, those descended from Aaron and those descended from Moses. This is a much larger topic, but suffice to say that the place where the sacrifice was made impacted upon the economic well being of the temple hierarchy.

The present day church offering is a descendant of this process. It is fair to say that without it, our modern day shamans would have to get real jobs.

CONTINUING JUSTIFICATION OF THE LAND GRAB: Lost in the debate over the details of human sacrifice is the nature of the dispute with the Ammonites. When Jepthah inquires of the Ammonites as to the reason for their aggression, they point out (rather reasonably) that the Israelites came up out of Egypt and stole their land. They offer to stop the war if the lands could possibly be restored.

Neither the Ammonites nor the Moabites nor the Perezites nor the Edomites nor any of the other peoples of the greater Canaan area had gotten God's memo giving away their land.

Present day Palestinians are hearing a version of the same story. MULTIPLE DEITY PROBLEMS: This chapter includes a statment that the Israelite God is more powerful than Chemosh, the god of the Ammonites. Since the presumption of monotheism pervades both Judaism and Christianity, the continual mention of other gods is disconcerting.

The Jepthah Story in the Bible* (Judges Ch. 11)
(This is the version actually in the Bible -
grab your nearest copy and open to Judges Chapter 11).

FUN FACTS

Jepthah makes a vow that he will sacrifice the first thing he sees if God will give him victory over the Ammonites.
God gives him a great slaughter, but then...
The first thing Jepthah sees after the victory is his daughter

JUDGES 11: Jephthah Sacrifices His Virgin Daughter on the Altar

As is the case with so many Bible stories, the Jepthah story begins with a visit to a prostitute. In this case, Jepthah's father Gilead visits a harlot, who bears Jepthah. The good news is that he grows up to be a "mighty man of valor", but the bad news is he is illegitimate. He is thrust out from his brethren by Gilead's wives.

When the Ammonites begin making war with the Israelites, the elders find Jepthah and ask him to be their "captain." They agree to make him their leader if he will come back and fight the Ammonites.

Jepthah sends a messenger to the Ammonites asking what's up with the warfare. The Ammonites respond by suggesting that the Israelites stole their land when they arrived from Egypt. Jepthah responds with a long explanation of why the land really belongs to the Israelites, which boils down to the fact that Jahweh gave it to them.

11:23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

As is often the case with Israel's enemies, the Ammonites didn't listen to reason. It's at this point that the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Jepthah and he makes a deal with Jahweh. Give him victory over the Ammonites, and Jepthath will offer a Burnt Offering of whatever comes out of his house following the battle. Risky behavior? Turns out, yes.

Jeptheh opens a can of whoopass on the Ammonites and heads for home, whereupon the first "thing" he sees is his daughter (namless, as are many OT women). She comes out to greet him with timbrels and dance, but her celebratory mood fizzles when she finds out she is toast.

Jepthah's words are a classic exercise in blame shifting:

11:35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

He allows her two months reprieve to mourn her virginity (if not her impending death). The next part is unambiguous (also see Commentary, left column).

11:39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man.