1ENTÓNCES Jefté Galaadita era hombre valiente, hijo de una ramera, al cual Jefté había engendrado Galaad. 2Y la mujer de Galaad también le había parido hijos: los cuales cuando fueron grandes echaron de sí a Jefté, diciendo: No heredarás en la casa de nuestro padre, porque eres bastardo. 3Huyendo pues Jefté a causa de sus hermanos, habitó en tierra de Tob: y juntáronse con él hombres ociosos, los cuales salían con él. 4Y aconteció que después de algunos dias los hijos de Ammón hicieron guerra contra Israel. 5Y como los hijos de Ammón tenían guerra contra Israel, los ancianos de Galaad fueron para volver a Jefté de tierra de Tob. 6Y dijeron a Jefté: Ven y serás nuestro capitán para que peleemos con los hijos de Ammón. 7Y Jefté respondió a los ancianos de Galaad: ¿No me habéis vosotros aborrecido, y me echasteis de la casa de mi padre? ¿Por qué venís ahora a mí, cuando estáis en aflicción? 8Los ancianos de Galaad respondieron a Jefté: por esta misma causa tornamos ahora a tí, para que vengas con nosotros, y pelées contra los hijos de Ammón, y nos seas cabeza a todos los que moramos en Galaad. 9Jefté entónces dijo a los ancianos de Galaad: Si me volvéis para que pelée contra los hijos de Ammón, y Jehová los entregare delante de mí, ¿seré yo vuestra cabeza? 10Y los ancianos de Galaad respondieron a Jefté: Jehová oiga entre nosotros, si no lo hicieremos como tú dices. 11Entónces Jefté vino con los ancianos de Galaad, y el pueblo le eligió por su cabeza y príncipe: y Jefté habló todas sus palabras delante de Jehová en Maspa. 12Y envió Jefté embajadores al rey de los Ammonitas, diciendo: ¿Qué tienes tú conmigo, que has venido a mí para hacer guerra en mi tierra? 13Y el rey de los Ammonitas respondió a los embajadores de Jefté: Por cuanto Israel tomó mi tierra, cuando subió de Egipto, desde Arnón hasta Jeboc y el Jordán: por tanto tórnalas ahora en paz. 14Y Jefté tornó a enviar otros embajadores al rey de los Ammonitas, 15Diciéndole: Jefté ha dicho así: Israel no tomó tierra de Moab, ni tierra de los hijos de Ammon: 16Mas subiendo Israel de Egipto, anduvo por el desierto hasta el mar Bermejo, y llegó a Cádes. 17Entónces Israel envió embajadores al rey de Edom, diciendo: Yo te ruego que me dejes pasar por tu tierra: mas el rey de Edom no los escuchó. Envió también al rey de Moab: el cual tampoco quiso: y así quedó Israel en Cádes. 18Y yendo por el desierto, rodeó la tierra de Edom, y la tierra de Moab, y viniendo por donde nace el sol a la tierra de Moab, asentó su campo destotra parte de Arnon: y no entraron por el término de Moab; porque Arnón término es de Moab. 19Y envió Israel embajadores a Sejón rey de los Amorreos, rey de Jesebón, diciéndole: Ruégote que me dejes pasar por tu tierra hasta mi lugar. 20Mas Sejón no se fió de Israel para darle paso por su término: ántes juntando Sejón todo su pueblo puso campo en Jasa, y peleó contra Israel. 21Mas Jehová el Dios de Israel entregó a Sejón y a todo su pueblo en mano de Israel, y venciólos, y poseyó Israel toda la tierra del Amorreo, que habitaba en aquella tierra. 22Poseyeron también todo el término del Amorreo desde Arnón hasta Jeboc, y desde el desierto hasta el Jordán. 23Así que Jehová el Dios de Israel echó los Amorreos delante de su pueblo Israel: ¿y poseerlo has tú? 24¿Si Camos tu dios te echase alguno, no lo poseerías tú? Así pues poseeremos nosotros a todo aquel que echó Jehová nuestro Dios de delante de nosotros. 25¿Eres tú ahora bueno, bueno más que Balac hijo de Sefor, rey de Moab? ¿tuvo él cuestión con Israel? ¿hizo guerra contra ellos? 26Ítem, habitando Israel por trescientos años a Jesebón y sus aldeas, a Aroer y sus aldeas; y todas las ciudades que están a los términos de Arnón, ¿por qué no las habéis defendido en este tiempo? 27Así que yo nada he pecado contra tí, mas tú haces mal conmigo haciéndome guerra: Jehová, que es el juez, juzgue hoy entre los hijos de Israel y los hijos de Ammón. 28Mas el rey de los hijos de Ammón no oyó las razones de Jefté que le envió a decir. 29Y el Espíritu de Jehová fué sobre Jefté, y pasó en Galaad, y en Manasés: y de allí pasó en Maspa de Galaad: y de Maspa de Galaad pasó a los hijos de Ammón. 30E hizo voto Jefté a Jehová, diciendo: Si entregares a los Ammonitas en mis manos, 31Cualquiera que me saliere a recibir de las puertas de mi casa, cuando volviere de los Ammonitas en paz, será de Jehová, y yo lo ofreceré en holocausto. 32Y pasó Jefté a los hijos de Ammón para pelear contra ellos, y Jehová los entregó en su mano. 33E hiriólos de gran matanza, mucho desde Aroer hasta llegar a Mennit, veinte ciudades: y hasta la vega de las viñas: y así fueron domados los Ammonitas delante de los hijos de Israel. 34Y volviendo Jefté a Maspa a su casa: he aquí que su hija le sale a recibir con adufes, y corros, a la cual tenía sola única: no tenía fuera de ella otro hijo ni hija. 35Y como él la vió, rompió sus vestidos, diciendo: Ay, hija mía, de verdad me has abatido, y tú eres de los que me abaten: porque yo he abierto mi boca a Jehová, y no lo podré revocar. 36Ella entónces le respondió: Padre mío, si has abierto tu boca a Jehová, haz de mí como salió de tu boca, pues que Jehová te ha hecho venganza de tus enemigos los hijos de Ammón. 37Y tornó a decir a su padre: Hágasme esto: déjame por dos meses que vaya y descienda por los montes, y llore mi virginidad, yo y mis compañeras. 38El entónces dijo: Vé. Y dejóla por dos meses: y ella fué con sus compañeras, y lloró su virginidad por los montes. 39Pasados los dos meses, volvió a su padre, e hizo de ella conforme a su voto, que había votado: y ella nunca conoció varón. 40De aquí fué la costumbre en Israel que de año en año iban las hijas de Israel, para endechar a la hija de Jefté Galaadita, cuatro dias en el año.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 JEPHTHAH. (
Judg 11:1-
Judg 11:3)
Jephthah--"opener."
son of an harlot--a concubine, or foreigner; implying an inferior sort of marriage prevalent in Eastern countries. Whatever dishonor might attach to his birth, his own high and energetic character rendered him early a person of note.
Gilead begat Jephthah--His father seems to have belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (
1Chr 7:14,
1Chr 7:17).
2 Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house--As there were children by the legitimate wife, the son of the secondary one was not entitled to any share of the patrimony, and the prior claim of the others was indisputable. Hence, as the brothers of Jephthah seem to have resorted to rude and violent treatment, they must have been influenced by some secret ill-will.
3 Jephthah . . . dwelt in the land of Tob--on the north of Gilead, beyond the frontier of the Hebrew territories (
2Sam 10:6,
2Sam 10:8).
there were gathered vain men to Jephthah--idle, daring, or desperate.
and went out with him--followed him as a military chief. They led a freebooting life, sustaining themselves by frequent incursions on the Ammonites and other neighboring people, in the style of Robin Hood. The same kind of life is led by many an Arab or Tartar still, who as the leader of a band, acquires fame by his stirring or gallant adventures. It is not deemed dishonorable when the expeditions are directed against those out of his own tribe or nation. Jephthah's mode of life was similar to that of David when driven from the court of Saul.
4 THE GILEADITES COVENANT WITH JEPHTHAH. (
Judg 11:4-
Judg 11:11)
in process of time--on the return of the season.
the children of Ammon made war against Israel--Having prepared the way by the introduction of Jephthah, the sacred historian here resumes the thread of his narrative from
Judg 10:17. The Ammonites seem to have invaded the country, and active hostilities were inevitable.
5 the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah--All eyes were directed towards him as the only person possessed of the qualities requisite for the preservation of the country in this time of imminent danger; and a deputation of the chief men was despatched from the Hebrew camp at Mizpeh to solicit his services.
7 Jephthah said, Did not ye hate me?--He gave them at first a haughty and cold reception. It is probable that he saw some of his brothers among the deputies. Jephthah was now in circumstances to make his own terms. With his former experience, he would have shown little wisdom or prudence without binding them to a clear and specific engagement to invest him with unlimited authority, the more especially as he was about to imperil his life in their cause. Although ambition might, to a certain degree, have stimulated his ready compliance, it is impossible to overlook the piety of his language, which creates a favorable impression that his roving life, in a state of social manners so different from ours, was not incompatible with habits of personal religion.
10 the elders of Israel said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us--Their offer being accompanied by the most solemn oath, Jephthah intimated his acceptance of the mission, and his willingness to accompany them. But to make "assurance doubly sure," he took care that the pledge given by the deputies in Tob should be ratified in a general assembly of the people at Mizpeh; and the language of the historian, "Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord," seems to imply that his inauguration with the character and extraordinary office of judge was solemnized by prayer for the divine blessing, or some religious ceremonial.
12 HIS EMBASSY TO THE KING OF AMMON. (Jdg. 11:12-28)
Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon--This first act in his judicial capacity reflects the highest credit on his character for prudence and moderation, justice and humanity. The bravest officers have always been averse to war; so Jephthah, whose courage was indisputable, resolved not only to make it clearly appear that hostilities were forced upon him, but to try measures for avoiding, if possible, an appeal to arms: and in pursuing such a course he was acting as became a leader in Israel (
Deut 20:10-
Deut 20:18).
13 the king of Ammon . . ., Because Israel took away my land--(See on
Deut 2:19). The subject of quarrel was a claim of right advanced by the Ammonite monarch to the lands which the Israelites were occupying. Jephthah's reply was clear, decisive, and unanswerable;--first, those lands were not in the possession of the Ammonites when his countrymen got them, and that they had been acquired by right of conquest from the Amorites [
Judg 11:21]; secondly, the Israelites had now, by a lapse of three hundred years of undisputed possession, established a prescriptive right to the occupation [
Judg 11:22-
Judg 11:23]; and thirdly, having received a grant of them from the Lord, his people were entitled to maintain their right on the same principle that guided the Ammonites in receiving, from their god Chemosh, the territory they now occupied [
Judg 11:24]. This diplomatic statement, so admirable for the clearness and force of its arguments, concluded with a solemn appeal to God to maintain, by the issue of events, the cause of right and justice [
Judg 11:27].
28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah--His remonstrances to the aggressor were disregarded, and war being inevitable, preparations were made for a determined resistance.
29 HIS VOW. (
Judg 11:29-
Judg 11:31)
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah--The calm wisdom, sagacious forethought, and indomitable energy which he was enabled to display, were a pledge to himself and a convincing evidence to his countrymen, that he was qualified by higher resources than his own for the momentous duties of his office.
he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh--the provinces most exposed and in danger, for the purpose of levying troops, and exciting by his presence a widespread interest in the national cause. Returning to the camp at Mizpeh, he then began his march against the enemy. There he made his celebrated vow, in accordance with an ancient custom for generals at the outbreak of a war, or on the eve of a battle, to promise the god of their worship a costly oblation, or dedication of some valuable booty, in the event of victory. Vows were in common practice also among the Israelites. They were encouraged by the divine approval as emanating from a spirit of piety and gratitude; and rules were laid down in the law for regulating the performance. But it is difficult to bring Jephthah's vow within the legitimate range (see on
Lev 27:28).
31 whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me--This evidently points not to an animal, for that might have been a dog; which, being unclean, was unfit to be offered; but to a person, and it looks extremely as if he, from the first, contemplated a human sacrifice. Bred up as he had been, beyond the Jordan, where the Israelitish tribes, far from the tabernacle, were looser in their religious sentiments, and living latterly on the borders of a heathen country where such sacrifices were common, it is not improbable that he may have been so ignorant as to imagine that a similar immolation would be acceptable to God. His mind, engrossed with the prospect of a contest, on the issue of which the fate of his country depended, might, through the influence of superstition, consider the dedication of the object dearest to him the most likely to ensure success.
shall surely be the Lord's; and [or] I will offer it up for a burnt offering--The adoption of the latter particle, which many interpreters suggest, introduces the important alternative, that if it were a person, the dedication would be made to the service of the sanctuary; if a proper animal or thing, it would be offered on the altar.
32 HE OVERCOMES THE AMMONITES. (
Judg 11:32-
Judg 11:33)
Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon . . . and the Lord delivered them into his hands--He met and engaged them at Aroer, a town in the tribe of Gad, upon the Arnon. A decisive victory crowned the arms of Israel, and the pursuit was continued to Abel (plain of the vineyards), from south to north, over an extent of about sixty miles.
34 Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances--The return of the victors was hailed, as usual, by the joyous acclaim of a female band (
1Sam 18:6), the leader of whom was Jephthah's daughter. The vow was full in his mind, and it is evident that it had not been communicated to anyone, otherwise precautions would doubtless have been taken to place another object at his door. The shriek, and other accompaniments of irrepressible grief, seem to indicate that her life was to be forfeited as a sacrifice; the nature of the sacrifice (which was abhorrent to the character of God) and distance from the tabernacle does not suffice to overturn this view, which the language and whole strain of the narrative plainly support; and although the lapse of two months might be supposed to have afforded time for reflection, and a better sense of his duty, there is but too much reason to conclude that he was impelled to the fulfilment by the dictates of a pious but unenlightened conscience.