Topical Bible: Jephthah: Leads the Army of Israel Against the Ammonites

◄ Jephthah: Leads the Army of Israel Against the Ammonites ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Jephthah, a significant figure in the Book of Judges, is best known for his role as a judge and military leader of Israel. His account is primarily found in Judges 11-12. Jephthah was the son of Gilead and a prostitute, which led to his rejection by his half-brothers and his subsequent life in the land of Tob, where he gathered a group of adventurers around him (Judges 11:1-3).

Call to Leadership

The narrative of Jephthah's leadership begins with the oppression of Israel by the Ammonites. The elders of Gilead, recognizing Jephthah's prowess as a warrior, sought him out to lead their forces against the Ammonites. Despite his initial reluctance due to past mistreatment, Jephthah agreed to lead them on the condition that he would become their head if the Lord granted him victory (Judges 11:4-11).

Diplomatic Efforts

Before engaging in battle, Jephthah attempted to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. He sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, questioning their reasons for waging war against Israel. Jephthah recounted Israel's history, emphasizing that the land in question had been taken from the Amorites, not the Ammonites, and had been possessed by Israel for centuries. He argued that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given them the land (Judges 11:12-27).

Vow and Victory

Despite Jephthah's efforts, the king of the Ammonites ignored his message. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, Jephthah advanced against the Ammonites. Before the battle, he made a vow to the Lord, promising that if He granted him victory, he would offer as a burnt offering whatever came out of the door of his house to meet him upon his return (Judges 11:29-31).

The Lord delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah's hands, and he achieved a great victory, subduing twenty cities and securing peace for Israel (Judges 11:32-33).

The Tragic Vow

Upon returning home, Jephthah was met by his only child, his daughter, coming out to greet him with tambourines and dancing. This encounter fulfilled his vow, leading to a tragic and controversial episode. Jephthah was devastated, but his daughter accepted her fate, requesting only a two-month reprieve to mourn her virginity with her friends. After this period, Jephthah fulfilled his vow, a decision that has been the subject of much debate and interpretation (Judges 11:34-40).

Conflict with Ephraim

Following his victory over the Ammonites, Jephthah faced internal strife with the tribe of Ephraim. The Ephraimites accused him of not calling them to fight against the Ammonites, leading to a conflict that resulted in the defeat of the Ephraimites by Jephthah's forces. This conflict further solidified Jephthah's position as a formidable leader, though it also highlighted the divisions within Israel (Judges 12:1-6).

Legacy

Jephthah judged Israel for six years before his death and was buried in a town in Gilead (Judges 12:7). His account is a complex narrative of faith, leadership, and the consequences of rash vows. Jephthah is later mentioned in the New Testament, in the Book of Hebrews, as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:32), underscoring his enduring legacy in the biblical tradition.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 11:29-33
Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... two views as to the nature of the sacrifice of Jephthah's daughter. ... out of the army,
and I fled to-day out of the army. ... And when the children of Israel heard it ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... as Peter saith, Fleshly lusts, they war against the soul ... iniquity, and wickedness;
that which leads to heaven ... unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel" (Amos 7 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm