Behind 74 break even the occasional of nieces and hit a virgin, which meant that she would not know the joys of motherhood and perpetuate her father's inheritance This would be reason enough for her and her friends to spend two months grieving, for every daughter wanted a family and every father wanted grandchildren to maintain the family inheritance. Nowhere the text are we told that Jephthah actually killed his daughter, nor do we find anybody bewailing the girl's death. The emphasis Jud is the fact that she remained a virgin. It's difficult to believe that the daughters of would establish a custom to celebrate the awful sacrifice of a human being, but we can well understand that they would commemorate the devotion and obedience of Jephthah's daughter helping her father fulfill his vow. She deserves to stand with as a faithful child, who was willing to obey both father and God, no matter what the cost. IT SHALL BE THE LORD'S AND I OFFER IT AS A BURNT OFFERING: This phrase be translated: shall surely be the LORD's or I offer it up for a burnt offering Sometimes the idea is presented that Jephthah gave her to the tabernacle where she spent the remainder of her life working as a priest's servant, never marrying, for she would be devoted to the sacred duties of religion as a holy virgin However, there is no specific OT example for the concept of the celibate female servant, though there were women performing various religious functions. Historically, this interpretation apparently from the allegorical explanation posited by the Rabbis Kimchi the 11th and 12th cen. This interpretation was subsequently adopted by expositors but has little biblical basis. A R Fausset Barber comments that Fausset's work is of immeasurable value. Remains one of the finest treatments extant. A must for the expositor. Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of house to meet me when I return peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I offer it up for a burnt-offering Judges 11 Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand. Bush Jephthah passed over unto. That is, passed through or over the intermediate regions lying between him and the enemy. Jephthah was led and controlled by the Holy Spirit This leading was not a quiet inactivity. Jephthah did not sit down and passively observe while God accomplished His He traveled through the region to gather troops, organizing them, developing strategy and leading the attack. To be led by the Spirit is always to be led into activity and into the battle for God. He worked out what God worked Gideon was a weak that God transformed into a fearless warrior. Jephthah however was a valiant warrior and because of his tragic family history he had had to become strong to survive. The story of his life is of God taking a strong and by His Spirit turning him into a usable Whatever our strengths and weaknesses, the secret of our usefulness is our availability to our God. Note that there was not just one battle involved here but entire military campaign which proved victorious over twenty cities. Why? Because the LORD gave them into his hand. They still had to engage the warfare but the victory was from the Lord You can it down God's sovereignty does not release us from personal responsibility! A R Fausset Barber comments that Fausset's work is of immeasurable value. Remains one of the finest treatments extant. A must for the expositor. Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. Carr Judges JEPHTHAH'S VICTORY A. Judges 11 It Was A Divine The battle was waged and the victory was won. The children of Ammon were defeated because the Lord delivered them up to the Israelites. It was a divine victory and God was given all the B. Judges 11 It Was A Decisive The language of this verse tells us how complete