Unsavory Passages
So, I'm writing about the Bible right now, and I've landed on what is, to me, the most unsavory story in all of scripture. It's the story of Jephthah and the sacrifice of his daughter in Judges 11. What a horrific passage. But, in some strange way, I'm glad it's in there -- and that's what I'm trying to write about, what's good about this story...
posted by tony at 6:28 AM
9 Comments:
Did he sacrifice her or was it a matter of dedicating her to the temple as a temple servant - sort of like a Nun?
The reason I ask is that part of her sadness relates to never being married, and so I wonder if she mourns entering the celibate life. Are there any arguments you've run across that try to establish that something other than human sacrifice is in view there?
The story of Jephtah's daughter, as I see it (and I don't remember where I read this first) is a classic case of an attempt at piety gone drastically wrong. What God gave approval of was Jephthah courage in facing the ammonites, not in his foolish sacrifice of his daughter. As a number of scholars have pointed out, Jephthah did not need to follow through on his vow and in keeping his foolish vow he violated God's commandments against human sacrifice.
I think it serves best as a story of caution - a text of terror in the truest sense - as a story of how not do be piously devoted to God.
hey Tony. If you can get your hands on Gordon Hugenberger's argument, I think you will get a new angle on things. He's been working on a judges commentary for years now and has a refreshing approach. He's the pastor of park street church in boston and adjunct faculty at Gordon Conwell. He makes a strong argument for what barlow suggested...that he doesn't actually KILL his daughter.
Isn't there a similar story in Acts? It's somewhat different, I think people were trying to kill or have sex with Paul(?) or something. He was hidden in a person's house. The owner then sends his daughters out for th mob...Is this ringing a bell to anyone?
Hi Tony, folks;
I'm new to your conversation, but I couldn't resist putting my nickle's worth in.
Perhaps this story is illustrative of what happens when we operate in pride. It sounds like wounded pride that made Jephtah claim leadership as a reward for helping to defend Gilead. Maybe it was boastful pride (hubris) that produced the vow of "whatever first comes out of the door" and it looks like stubbornness (another form of pride) that made him carry out the vow when he probably should have fallen on his face before God to ask for mercy. Jephtah strikes me as a very proud man. Maybe the good in this story is that he will learn humility.
I think that perhaps because vows tend to come at least partly out of pride that Jesus tells us not to make vows, but have our yes mean yes and our no mean no.
Not that I've done anything similar, ...Naw, not me!
I definitely think that Jephthah murdered his daughter. It's ironic that Jephthah was a leader of the revolt against the Ammonite oppression since the Ammonites sacrificed their children as a part of their worship of their national Molech.
Jephthah's life serves as a warning to all who try to manupulate God. God's not our vending machine.
Isn't Jephthah listed in Hebrews 11 in the faith "hall of fame"? How does that grab us?
I'm familiar with Gordon Hugenberger's position on the judges which sounds radical at first, but I find pretty convincing. He stresses reading each of the judges in light of Judges 1 & 2, particularly 2:16ff. It was the Lord who raised up the judges; the Lord was with the judge; the Lord delivered Israel from their enemies through the hand of the judge. With a number of judges, including Jepthah, we are told explicitly that the Spirit was upon the judge. We should also see the judges in light of Dt. 18:15ff - the Lord's promise through Moses to raise up a "prophet like me." As we look at the leaders who follow Moses, we should see how they resemble him. Joshua is the first "2nd Moses" figure (he does Moses-type miracles - crossing the Jordan on dry land, writing the law, renewing the covenant-Josh. 24). The next "2nd Moses" figures are the judges, who, in Hugenberger's interpretation of the biblical texts, are all admirable figures. Jephthah clearly knew the Mosaic law if you compare the historical material Jephthah narrates in Judges 11 with Numbers 21. He is a worthy covenant mediator, another 2nd Moses figure, and in GH's view, he dedicated his daughter to the Lord's service. How could someone who engaged in child sacrifice make it into the hall of fame of Hebrews 11?
....and so it goes with many taking license with scripture when they find what is actually written too difficult to consider they alter it to make it palatable! Jephthah vowed to sacrifice whatever came out of his house first, failing to consider the possibility of it being his most cherished posession! What can be learned from his lack of discernment?
I agree with Anastasia! Read the Word and accept what God says without alteration!
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