Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord to offer as a burnt sacrifice, the first thing that came out of his house to great him. His only child, his daughter came out first. There was a tradition that if a woman who wants to give herself in service to God must be a virgin. The expression "bewail her virginity" means that she would spend two months with her close friends and relatives before joining herself to the temple.
Verse 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
One meaning of burnt offering is to sacrifice at the altar. The other meaning is to give oneself to serve in the Temple, the latter is most likely what was done. She being his only child left no hope for any grandchildren because she could never marry, would die a virgin.
The word lament in verse 40 sounds like she was sacrificed, but the Hebrew word "tanah" can also have the meaning of perhaps recount, rehearse or commemorate the idea of attributing honor.
So, the daughters of Israel could, for four days be honoring her for giving herself for the rest of her life to serve in the temple for the honor of her father's word and the vow he made to God. Some kind of love she had for her daddy.
Ronald L Whittemore ,i dont think she would have been allowed to serve in the temple ,only male levites were allowed to serve in the temple ,Jephthas vow was to offer it as a burnt offering ,he wouldnt go back on a vow to God and he wouldnt have been so upset if she was just going to serve in the temple , these are only my thoughts , i could be wrong but i belive what it actually says .
Judges 11 doesn't have 39 verses.
Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord to offer as a burnt sacrifice, the first thing that came out of his house to great him. His only child, his daughter came out first. There was a tradition that if a woman who wants to give herself in service to God must be a virgin. The expression "bewail her virginity" means that she would spend two months with her close friends and relatives before joining herself to the temple.
Verse 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
One meaning of burnt offering is to sacrifice at the altar. The other meaning is to give oneself to serve in the Temple, the latter is most likely what was done. She being his only child left no hope for any grandchildren because she could never marry, would die a virgin.
The word lament in verse 40 sounds like she was sacrificed, but the Hebrew word "tanah" can also have the meaning of perhaps recount, rehearse or commemorate the idea of attributing honor.
So, the daughters of Israel could, for four days be honoring her for giving herself for the rest of her life to serve in the temple for the honor of her father's word and the vow he made to God. Some kind of love she had for her daddy.
God bless
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