How does Judges 11:38 connect to Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 about vows? Setting the Scene “Go,” he said, and sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and wept on the mountains, because she would never marry. — Judges 11:38 “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it, because He takes no delight in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.” — Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 The Context in Judges 11 • Jephthah vowed that if the Lord granted victory over the Ammonites, “whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me… I will offer it up as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:30-31). • God granted the victory. His only daughter was first to greet him. • Verse 38 shows Jephthah honoring the vow: he allows her two months to mourn, then carries it out exactly as spoken (v. 39). The Wisdom Passage in Ecclesiastes 5 • Solomon teaches that vows are made directly to God. • Delaying or reneging brands the vow-maker a “fool.” • The Teacher warns it is safer never to vow than to vow and break it. Key Connections • Seriousness of Vows – Jephthah’s willingness to follow through mirrors Solomon’s counsel: God expects fulfillment. • Timeliness – Jephthah acts promptly after the two-month period, aligning with “do not delay to fulfill it.” • Costly Obedience – Both passages assume vows may prove painful; the issue is faithfulness, not convenience (cf. Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23). • God-ward Orientation – Jephthah addresses the Lord directly; Ecclesiastes reminds that vows involve God’s hearing and judgment. Lessons for Today • Think before speaking promises to God; weighty words invite weighty accountability (Proverbs 20:25). • Integrity before God outranks personal comfort; obedience sometimes hurts (Psalm 15:4b). • Better silence than rash spirituality; disciplined speech protects us from folly (Matthew 5:33-37 refl.). Summary Jephthah’s fulfillment of his vow in Judges 11:38 embodies the very principle Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 teaches: vows made to God must be honored without delay, even at great personal cost. |
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