Editing Jephthah (section)

== Story ==
[[File:Facial Chronicle - b.02, p.547 - Brothers expelling Jephthah.jpg|thumb|1) Jephthah expelled by half-brothers;2) Jephthah asked to be Judge]]
The story of Jephthah is found in the [[Book of Judges]], [[Judges 11|chapters 11]]–[[Judges 12|12]]. The Israelites "again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord ... they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the [[Philistines]] and into the hand of the [[Ammon (nation)|Ammonites]] ...".<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|10:6–7|ESV}}, English Standard Version</ref>

Jephthah, having been born illegitimately, is driven out by his half-brothers and takes up his dwelling in [[Tob]], east of Gilead. "Outlaws collected around Jephthah and went raiding with him."<ref>Judges 11:3</ref> The elders of Gilead ask him to be their leader in the campaign against the Ammonites, but he holds out for a more permanent and a broader position, and the elders agree that, provided Jephthah succeeds in defeating Ammon, he will be their permanent chieftain. On behalf of Israel as a whole and in reliance on the might of God the Judge, Jephthah challenges the Ammonites. Jephthah swears an oath:

<blockquote>". . . and whatever [footnote: Or ''whoever''] comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the {{LORD}}'s, and I will offer it [footnote: Or ''him''] up for a [[Burnt offering (Judaism)|burnt offering]].
:—{{Bibleverse||Judges|11:31|ESV}}, ''English Standard Version''</blockquote>

The victorious Jephthah is met on his return by his only child, a [[Jephthah's daughter|daughter]]. Jephthah tears his clothes and cries, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low!" but is bound by his vow: "I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow".<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|11:35|ESV}}, English Standard Version</ref> The girl asks for two months' grace, "...that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity".<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|11:37|ESV}}, English Standard Version</ref> And so Jephthah "did with her according to his vow that he had made".<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|11:39|ESV}}, English Standard Version</ref> The story ends by recounting how "the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah, the Gileadite, four days in the year".<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|11:40|ESV}}</ref>

Later, Jephthah was forced to fight against the [[Ephraim]]ites, who refused to aid him in his struggle against the Ammonites. The story is remembered for the killing of the fugitive Ephraimites who were identified by their accent; they said the Hebrew word ''[[shibboleth]]'' as ''sibboleth''. "At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell" ({{bibleverse||Judges|12:5–6|ESV}}).

Jephthah is referenced once in the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] 11:32.