This week we look at the story of Jephthah in Judges 10-12. If you want to read just the part of the story that will be the focus of next week's sermon, you can read it here
Like Abimelech before him, Jephthah was an empty man. Not only is he a son of a prostitute, but his half-brothers make sure that he will not receive any inheritance by running him out of town. But that is short-lived when they need someone to lead them in battle. Again like Abimelech, Jephthah gathers a band of ruffians, fellow empty men, to do the dirty work.
The central story for which we remember Jephthah is his rash vow to YHWH to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home should YHWH give him victory in battle. He is met by his only daughter dancing and singing to celebrate his victory. While there is a little wiggle room in the Hebrew, it appears that Jephthah, considering his vow to YHWH unbreakable (even more remarkably a position his daughter also seemed to support), commits the unthinkable, human sacrifice of his only child.
The final chapter in the story of Jephthah is again civil unrest with another tribe. In this case, he and his army slay thousands of Ephraimites who can't sneak past them because of their inability to pronounce the word shibboleth.
Like Abimelech before him, Jephthah was an empty man. Not only is he a son of a prostitute, but his half-brothers make sure that he will not receive any inheritance by running him out of town. But that is short-lived when they need someone to lead them in battle. Again like Abimelech, Jephthah gathers a band of ruffians, fellow empty men, to do the dirty work.
The central story for which we remember Jephthah is his rash vow to YHWH to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home should YHWH give him victory in battle. He is met by his only daughter dancing and singing to celebrate his victory. While there is a little wiggle room in the Hebrew, it appears that Jephthah, considering his vow to YHWH unbreakable (even more remarkably a position his daughter also seemed to support), commits the unthinkable, human sacrifice of his only child.
The final chapter in the story of Jephthah is again civil unrest with another tribe. In this case, he and his army slay thousands of Ephraimites who can't sneak past them because of their inability to pronounce the word shibboleth.
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