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Jueces 11
Nueva Traducción Viviente

Jefté, juez de Israel

11 Jefté era un gran guerrero de la región de Galaad. Era hijo de Galaad, pero su madre era una prostituta. 2 La esposa de Galaad tuvo varios hijos, y cuando esos medios hermanos de Jefté crecieron, lo echaron del territorio. «Tú no recibirás ninguna parte de la herencia de nuestro padre—le dijeron—, porque eres hijo de una prostituta». 3 Así que Jefté huyó de sus hermanos y vivió en la tierra de Tob. En poco tiempo, tuvo una banda de rebeldes despreciables que lo seguían.

4 Por ese entonces, los amonitas comenzaron a hacer guerra contra Israel. 5 Así que cuando los amonitas atacaron, los ancianos de Galaad mandaron a buscar a Jefté a la tierra de Tob 6 y le dijeron:

—¡Ven y sé nuestro comandante! ¡Ayúdanos a pelear contra los amonitas!

7 Pero Jefté les respondió:

—¿Acaso no son ustedes los mismos que me odiaban y me echaron de la casa de mi padre? ¿Por qué vienen a buscarme ahora que están en apuros?

8 —Porque te necesitamos—contestaron los ancianos—. Si marchas al frente de nosotros a la batalla contra los amonitas, te proclamaremos gobernante de todo el pueblo de Galaad.

9 Jefté les dijo a los ancianos:

—A ver si entiendo bien: si voy con ustedes y el Señor me da la victoria sobre los amonitas, ¿de veras me harán gobernante de todo el pueblo?

10 —El Señor es nuestro testigo—contestaron los ancianos—. Prometemos hacer todo lo que tú digas.

11 Entonces Jefté fue con los ancianos de Galaad, y el pueblo lo proclamó gobernante y comandante del ejército. En Mizpa, en presencia del Señor, Jefté repitió lo que les había dicho a los ancianos.

12 Luego Jefté envió mensajeros al rey de Amón, para preguntarle:

—¿Por qué has salido a pelear contra mi tierra?

13 El rey de Amón contestó a los mensajeros de Jefté:

—Cuando los israelitas salieron de Egipto, me robaron la tierra desde el río Arnón hasta el río Jaboc, y desde allí hasta el Jordán. Así que ahora, devuélvanme mi tierra pacíficamente.

14 En respuesta, Jefté le envió al rey amonita el siguiente mensaje:

15 «Esto es lo que dice Jefté: Israel no robó ninguna tierra ni a Moab ni a Amón. 16 Cuando los israelitas llegaron a Cades, en su viaje desde Egipto, después de cruzar el mar Rojo,[a] 17 enviaron mensajeros al rey de Edom para pedirle que les permitiera pasar por su tierra. Pero su petición fue denegada. Entonces le pidieron lo mismo al rey de Moab, pero él tampoco los dejó pasar por su tierra. Por eso el pueblo de Israel se quedó en Cades.

18 »Finalmente, se fueron rodeando por el desierto los territorios de Edom y Moab. Viajaron a lo largo de la frontera oriental de Moab y acamparon al otro lado del río Arnón. Pero ni una sola vez cruzaron el río Arnón para entrar en Moab, porque el Arnón era la frontera de Moab.

19 »Después Israel envió mensajeros al rey Sehón, de los amorreos, quien reinaba desde Hesbón, a fin de pedirle permiso para atravesar su territorio y llegar a su destino. 20 Pero el rey Sehón no confiaba lo suficiente en Israel para dejarlo pasar por su tierra. En cambio, movilizó a su ejército en Jahaza y atacó a los israelitas. 21 Pero el Señor, Dios de Israel, le dio a su pueblo la victoria sobre el rey Sehón. Entonces Israel se apoderó de la tierra de los amorreos, quienes vivían en aquella región, 22 desde el río Arnón hasta el río Jaboc, y desde el desierto oriental hasta el Jordán.

23 »Así que, como ves, fue el Señor, Dios de Israel, quien les quitó la tierra a los amorreos y se la dio a Israel. Entonces, ¿por qué tendríamos que devolvértela a ti? 24 Tú quédate con todo lo que te dé tu dios Quemos, y nosotros nos quedaremos con todo lo que nos dé el Señor nuestro Dios. 25 ¿Acaso eres tú mejor que Balac, hijo de Zipor, rey de Moab? ¿Intentó él presentar argumentos contra Israel por territorios en conflicto? ¿Entró en guerra con los israelitas?

26 »Hace trescientos años que Israel vive aquí, tanto en Hesbón como en los asentamientos de alrededor, hasta Aroer y sus asentamientos, y en todas las ciudades a lo largo del río Arnón. ¿Por qué no has hecho ningún esfuerzo hasta ahora para recuperar la tierra? 27 Por lo tanto, yo no pequé contra ti. Más bien, tú me hiciste daño al atacarme. Que el Señor, quien es juez, decida hoy quién de nosotros tiene la razón: si Amón o Israel».

28 Pero el rey de Amón no hizo caso al mensaje de Jefté.

El voto de Jefté

29 En esa ocasión, el Espíritu del Señor vino sobre Jefté, y él recorrió toda la tierra de Galaad y de Manasés, incluida Mizpa en Galaad y, desde allí, lideró al ejército contra los amonitas. 30 Y Jefté hizo un voto al Señor: «Si me das la victoria sobre los amonitas, 31 yo entregaré al Señor al primero que salga de mi casa para recibirme cuando regrese triunfante. Lo sacrificaré como ofrenda quemada».

32 Así que Jefté dirigió al ejército contra los amonitas, y el Señor le dio la victoria. 33 Aplastó a los amonitas, devastó unas veinte ciudades desde Aroer hasta una zona cerca de Minit, y desde allí hasta Abel-keramim. De esa forma, Israel derrotó a los amonitas.

34 Cuando Jefté volvió a su casa en Mizpa, su hija salió a recibirlo tocando una pandereta y danzando de alegría. Ella era su hija única, ya que él no tenía más hijos ni hijas. 35 Cuando la vio, se rasgó la ropa en señal de angustia.

—¡Hija mía!—clamó—. ¡Me has destruido por completo! ¡Me has traído una gran calamidad! Pues hice un voto al Señor y no puedo dejar de cumplirlo.

36 Y ella le dijo:

—Padre, si hiciste un voto al Señor, debes hacer conmigo lo que prometiste, porque el Señor te ha dado una gran victoria sobre tus enemigos, los amonitas. 37 Pero antes, permíteme hacer una sola cosa: déjame subir a deambular por las colinas y a llorar con mis amigas durante dos meses, porque moriré virgen.

38 —Puedes ir—le dijo Jefté.

Y la dejó salir por el término de dos meses. Ella y sus amigas subieron a las colinas y lloraron porque ella nunca tendría hijos. 39 Cuando volvió a su casa, su padre cumplió el voto que había hecho, y ella murió virgen.

Así que se hizo costumbre en Israel 40 que las jóvenes israelitas se ausentaran cuatro días cada año para lamentar la desgracia de la hija de Jefté.

Footnotes

  1. 11:16 En hebreo mar de juncos.
Listen to Jueces 11
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Jueces 11
Nueva Versión Internacional

11 Jefté el galaadita era un guerrero valiente, hijo de Galaad y de una prostituta. 2 Galaad también tuvo hijos con su esposa, quienes cuando crecieron echaron a Jefté. «No tendrás parte en la herencia de nuestra familia —dijeron—, porque eres hijo de otra mujer». 3 Entonces Jefté huyó de sus hermanos y se fue a vivir en la región de Tob, donde se le juntaron unos hombres sin escrúpulos, que salían con él a cometer fechorías.

4 Después de algún tiempo, cuando los amonitas hicieron la guerra contra Israel, 5 los jefes de Galaad fueron a traer a Jefté de la tierra de Tob.

6 —Ven —le dijeron—, sé nuestro comandante, para que podamos luchar contra los amonitas.

7 Jefté les contestó:

—¿No eran ustedes los que me odiaban y me echaron de la casa de mi padre? ¿Por qué vienen a verme ahora cuando están en apuros?

8 Los jefes de Galaad dijeron:

—Por eso ahora venimos a verte. Ven con nosotros a luchar contra los amonitas y serás el líder de todos los que vivimos en Galaad.

9 Jefté respondió:

—Si me llevan con ustedes para luchar contra los amonitas y el Señor me los entrega, entonces de veras seré el líder de ustedes.

10 Los jefes de Galaad le aseguraron:

—El Señor es nuestro testigo: haremos lo que tú digas.

11 Jefté fue con los jefes de Galaad; entonces el pueblo lo puso como su líder y comandante. Y reiteró en Mizpa todas sus palabras en presencia del Señor.

12 Luego Jefté envió unos mensajeros al rey de los amonitas para que le preguntaran:

—¿Qué tienes contra mí que has venido a hacerle la guerra a mi país?

13 El rey de los amonitas respondió a los mensajeros de Jefté:

—Cuando Israel salió de Egipto, se apoderó de mi tierra desde el Arnón hasta el Jaboc, incluso hasta el Jordán. Ahora devuélvemela por las buenas.

14 Jefté volvió a enviar mensajeros al rey amonita, 15 diciéndole:

«Así dice Jefté: “Israel no se apoderó de la tierra de los moabitas ni de los amonitas. 16 Cuando los israelitas salieron de Egipto, caminaron por el desierto hasta el mar Rojo[a] y siguieron hasta Cades. 17 Entonces enviaron mensajeros al rey de Edom, diciéndole: ‘Danos permiso para pasar por tu país’. Pero el rey de Edom no les hizo caso. Enviaron el mismo mensaje al rey de Moab, pero él tampoco aceptó. Así que Israel se quedó a vivir en Cades.

18 »”Después anduvieron por el desierto y bordeando los territorios de Edom y Moab, entraron en territorio moabita por la parte oriental y acamparon al otro lado del río Arnón. No entraron en el territorio moabita, pues el Arnón era la frontera.

19 »”Entonces Israel mandó mensajeros a Sijón, rey de los amorreos, que gobernaba en Hesbón, y le dijo: ‘Permítenos pasar por tu país hasta nuestro territorio’. 20 Pero Sijón desconfió de Israel[b] en cuanto a dejarlo pasar por su territorio, por lo que reunió a todo su ejército y acampó en Yahaza y luchó contra Israel.

21 »”El Señor, Dios de Israel, entregó a Sijón y a todo su ejército en manos de Israel y los derrotó. Así tomó Israel posesión de toda la tierra de los amorreos que vivían en aquel país, 22 ocupándolo todo, desde el Arnón hasta el Jaboc y desde el desierto hasta el Jordán.

23 »”El Señor, Dios de Israel, les quitó esta tierra a los amorreos para dársela a su pueblo Israel, ¿y tú nos la vas a quitar? 24 ¿Acaso no consideras tuyo lo que tu dios Quemós te da? Pues también nosotros consideramos nuestro lo que el Señor nuestro Dios nos ha dado. 25 ¿Acaso te crees mejor que Balac, hijo de Zipor, rey de Moab? ¿Acaso alguna vez entró él en litigio con Israel o luchó contra ellos? 26 Hace ya trescientos años que Israel ocupó a Hesbón y Aroer, con sus poblados y todas las ciudades en la ribera del Arnón. ¿Por qué no las recuperaron durante ese tiempo? 27 Yo no te he hecho ningún mal. Tú, en cambio, obras mal conmigo al librar una guerra contra mí. Que el Señor, el gran Juez, dicte hoy su sentencia en esta contienda entre israelitas y amonitas”».

28 Sin embargo, el rey de los amonitas no prestó atención al mensaje que le envió Jefté.

29 Entonces Jefté, tomado por el Espíritu del Señor, recorrió Galaad y Manasés, pasó por Mizpa de Galaad y desde allí avanzó contra los amonitas. 30 Y Jefté hizo una promesa solemne al Señor: «Si verdaderamente entregas a los amonitas en mis manos, 31 quien salga primero de la puerta de mi casa a recibirme, cuando yo vuelva de haber vencido a los amonitas, será del Señor y lo ofreceré en holocausto».

32 Jefté cruzó el río para luchar contra los amonitas y el Señor los entregó en sus manos. 33 Derrotó veinte ciudades, desde Aroer hasta las inmediaciones de Minit, hasta Abel Queramín. La derrota fue muy grande; así los amonitas quedaron sometidos a los israelitas.

34 Cuando Jefté volvió a su hogar en Mizpa, salió a recibirlo su hija, bailando al son de los panderos. Ella era hija única, pues Jefté no tenía otros hijos. 35 Cuando Jefté la vio, se rasgó las vestiduras y exclamó:

—¡Ay, hija mía, me has destrozado por completo! ¡Eres la causa de mi desgracia! Juré algo al Señor y no puedo retractarme.

36 —Padre mío —respondió ella—, le has dado tu palabra al Señor. Haz conmigo conforme a tu juramento, ya que el Señor te ha vengado de tus enemigos, los amonitas. 37 Pero concédeme esta sola petición —añadió—. Ya que nunca me casaré, dame un plazo de dos meses para retirarme a las montañas y llorar allí con mis amigas.

38 —Está bien, puedes ir —respondió él.

Y le permitió irse por dos meses. Ella y sus amigas se fueron a las montañas y lloró porque nunca se casaría. 39 Cumplidos los dos meses volvió a su padre y él hizo con ella conforme a su promesa. Ella era virgen.

De allí se originó la costumbre israelita 40 de que todos los años, durante cuatro días, las muchachas de Israel recordaran a la hija de Jefté de Galaad.

Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Lit. mar de las Cañas. Término con el que se designa en la Biblia al mar Rojo en su parte septentrional.
  2. 11:20 desconfió de Israel. Alt. no acordó con Israel.
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Judges 11
New English Translation

11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a brave warrior. His mother was a prostitute, but Gilead was his father.[a] 2 Gilead’s wife also gave[b] him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they made Jephthah leave and said to him, “You are not going to inherit any of our father’s wealth,[c] because you are another woman’s son.” 3 So Jephthah left[d] his half brothers[e] and lived in the land of Tob. Lawless men joined Jephthah’s gang and traveled with him.[f]

4 It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel. 5 When the Ammonites attacked,[g] the leaders[h] of Gilead asked Jephthah to come back[i] from the land of Tob. 6 They said,[j] “Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “But you hated me and made me leave[k] my father’s house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?” 8 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That may be true,[l] but now we pledge to you our loyalty.[m] Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader[n] of all who live in Gilead.”[o] 9 Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “All right.[p] If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me,[q] I will be your leader.”[r] 10 The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will judge any grievance you have against us,[s] if we do not do as you say.”[t] 11 So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander. Jephthah repeated the terms of the agreement[u] before the Lord in Mizpah.

Jephthah Gives a History Lesson

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, “Why have[v] you come against me to attack my land?” 13 The Ammonite king said to Jephthah’s messengers, “Because Israel stole[w] my land when they[x] came up from Egypt—from the Arnon River in the south to the Jabbok River in the north, and as far west as the Jordan.[y] Now return it[z] peaceably!”

14 Jephthah sent messengers back to the Ammonite king 15 and said to him, “This is what Jephthah says, ‘Israel did not steal[aa] the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites. 16 When they left[ab] Egypt, Israel traveled[ac] through the desert as far as the Red Sea and then came to Kadesh. 17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please allow us[ad] to pass through your land.” But the king of Edom rejected the request.[ae] Israel sent the same request to the king of Moab, but he was unwilling to cooperate.[af] So Israel stayed at Kadesh. 18 Then Israel[ag] went through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River;[ah] they did not go through Moabite territory (the Arnon was Moab’s border). 19 Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, “Please allow us to pass through your land to our land.”[ai] 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He[aj] assembled his whole army,[ak] camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took[al] all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land. 22 They took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River on the south to the Jabbok River on the north, from the desert in the east to the Jordan in the west.[am] 23 Since[an] the Lord God of Israel has driven out[ao] the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them?[ap] 24 You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the Lord our God has driven out before us.[aq] 25 Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them?[ar] 26 Israel has been living in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon for 300 years! Why did you not reclaim them during that time? 27 I have not done you wrong,[as] but you are doing wrong[at] by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!’” 28 But the Ammonite king disregarded[au] the message sent by Jephthah.[av]

A Foolish Vow Spells Death for a Daughter

29 The Lord’s Spirit empowered[aw] Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh and went[ax] to Mizpah in Gilead. From there he approached the Ammonites.[ay] 30 Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, saying, “If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me, 31 then whoever is the first to come through[az] the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites—he[ba] will belong to the Lord and[bb] I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice.” 32 Jephthah approached[bc] the Ammonites to fight with them, and the Lord handed them over to him. 33 He defeated them from Aroer all the way to Minnith—twenty cities in all, even as far as Abel Keramim. He wiped them out![bd] The Israelites humiliated the Ammonites.[be]

34 When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter hurrying out[bf] to meet him, dancing to the rhythm of tambourines.[bg] She was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter. 35 When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and said, “Oh no! My daughter! You have completely ruined me![bh] You have brought me disaster![bi] I made an oath to the Lord, and I cannot break it.”[bj] 36 She said to him, “My father, since[bk] you made an oath to the Lord, do to me as you promised.[bl] After all, the Lord vindicated you before[bm] your enemies, the Ammonites.” 37 She then said to her father, “Please grant me this one wish.[bn] For two months allow me to walk through the hills with my friends and mourn my virginity.”[bo] 38 He said, “You may go.” He permitted her to leave[bp] for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills.[bq] 39 After two months she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. She died a virgin.[br] Her tragic death gave rise to a custom in Israel.[bs] 40 Every year[bt] Israelite women commemorate[bu] the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days.[bv]

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:1 tn Heb “Now he was the son of a woman, a prostitute, and Gilead fathered Jephthah.”
  2. Judges 11:2 tn Heb “bore.”
  3. Judges 11:2 tn Heb “in the house of our father.”
  4. Judges 11:3 tn Or “fled from.”
  5. Judges 11:3 tn Heb “brothers.”
  6. Judges 11:3 tn Heb “Empty men joined themselves to Jephthah and went out with him.”
  7. Judges 11:5 tn Heb “When the Ammonites fought with Israel.”
  8. Judges 11:5 tn Or “elders.”
  9. Judges 11:5 tn Heb “went to take Jephthah.”
  10. Judges 11:6 tn Heb “to Jephthah.”
  11. Judges 11:7 tn Heb “Did you not hate me and make me leave?”
  12. Judges 11:8 tn Heb “therefore”; “even so.” For MT לָכֵן (lakhen, “therefore”) the LXX has an opposite reading, “not so,” which seems to be based on the Hebrew words לֹא כֵן (loʾ khen).
  13. Judges 11:8 tn Heb “we have returned to you.” For another example of שׁוּב אֶל (shuv ʾel) in the sense of “give allegiance to,” see 1 Kgs 12:27b.
  14. Judges 11:8 sn Then you will become the leader. The leaders of Gilead now use the word רֹאשׁ (roʾsh, “head, leader”), the same term that appeared in their original, general offer (see 10:18). In their initial offer to Jephthah they had simply invited him to be their קָצִין (qatsin, “commander”; v. 6). When he resists they must offer him a more attractive reward—rulership over the region. See R. G. Boling, Judges (AB), 198.
  15. Judges 11:8 tn Heb “leader of us and all who live in Gilead.”
  16. Judges 11:9 tn “All right” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
  17. Judges 11:9 tn Heb “places them before me.”
  18. Judges 11:9 tn Some translate the final statement as a question, “will I really be your leader?” An affirmative sentence is preferable. Jephthah is repeating the terms of the agreement in an official manner. In v. 10 the leaders legally agree to these terms.
  19. Judges 11:10 tn Heb “The Lord will be the one who hears between us.” For the idiom שָׁמַע בַּיִן (shamaʿ bayin, “to hear between”), see Deut 1:16.
  20. Judges 11:10 sn The Lord will judge…if we do not do as you say. The statement by the leaders of Gilead takes the form of a legally binding oath, which obligates them to the terms of the agreement.
  21. Judges 11:11 tn Heb “spoke all his words.” This probably refers to the “words” recorded in v. 9. Jephthah repeats the terms of the agreement at the Lord’s sanctuary, perhaps to ratify the contract or to emphasize the Gileadites’ obligation to keep their part of the bargain. Another option is to translate, “Jephthah conducted business before the Lord in Mizpah.” In this case, the statement is a general reference to the way Jephthah ruled. He recognized the Lord’s authority and made his decisions before the Lord.
  22. Judges 11:12 tn Heb “What to me and to you that…?”
  23. Judges 11:13 tn Or “took”; or “seized.”
  24. Judges 11:13 tn Heb “he” (a collective singular).
  25. Judges 11:13 tn Heb “from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan.” The word “River” has been supplied in the translation with “Arnon” and “Jabbok,” because these are less familiar to modern readers than the Jordan.
  26. Judges 11:13 tc The translation assumes a singular suffix (“[return] it”); the Hebrew text has a plural suffix (“[return] them”), which, if retained, might refer to the cities of the land.
  27. Judges 11:15 tn Or “take”; or “seize.”
  28. Judges 11:16 tn Heb “For when they went up from.”
  29. Judges 11:16 tn Or “went.”
  30. Judges 11:17 tn Heb “me.” (Collective Israel is the speaker.)
  31. Judges 11:17 tn Heb “did not listen.”
  32. Judges 11:17 tn Heb “Also to the king of Moab he sent, but he was unwilling.”
  33. Judges 11:18 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Israel; the pronoun in the Hebrew text represents a collective singular) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  34. Judges 11:18 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  35. Judges 11:19 tn Heb “to my place.”
  36. Judges 11:20 tn Heb “Sihon.” The proper name (“Sihon”) has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) because of English style; a repetition of the proper name here would be redundant in English.
  37. Judges 11:20 tn Heb “all his people” (also in the following verse).
  38. Judges 11:21 tn That is, took as its own possession.
  39. Judges 11:22 tn Heb “from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the desert to the Jordan.” The word “River” has been supplied in the translation with “Arnon” and “Jabbok,” because these are less familiar to modern readers than the Jordan.
  40. Judges 11:23 tn Heb “Now.”
  41. Judges 11:23 tn Or “dispossessed.”
  42. Judges 11:23 tn Heb “will you dispossess him [i.e., Israel; or possibly “it,” i.e., the territory]?” There is no interrogative marker in the Hebrew text.
  43. Judges 11:24 tn Heb “Is it not so that what Chemosh your god causes you to possess, you possess, and all whom the Lord our God dispossesses before us we will possess?” Jephthah speaks of Chemosh as if he is on a par with the Lord God of Israel. This does not necessarily mean that Jephthah is polytheistic or that he recognizes the Lord as only a local deity. He may simply be assuming the Ammonite king’s perspective for the sake of argument. Other texts, as well as the extrabiblical Mesha inscription, associate Chemosh with Moab, while Milcom is identified as the god of the Ammonites. Why then does Jephthah refer to Chemosh as the Ammonite god? Ammon had likely conquered Moab and the Ammonite king probably regarded himself as heir of all territory formerly held by Moab. Originally Moab had owned the disputed territory (cf. Num 21:26-29), meaning that Chemosh was regarded as the god of the region (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 203-4). Jephthah argues that Chemosh had long ago relinquished claim to the area (by allowing Sihon to conquer it), while the Lord had long ago established jurisdiction over it (by taking it from Sihon and giving it to Israel). Both sides should abide by the decisions of the gods which had stood firm for 300 years.
  44. Judges 11:25 tn The Hebrew grammatical constructions of all three rhetorical questions indicate emphasis, which “really” and “dare to” are intended to express in the translation. sn Jephthah argues that the Ammonite king should follow the example of Balak, who, once thwarted in his attempt to bring a curse on Israel, refused to attack Israel and returned home (Num 22-24).
  45. Judges 11:27 tn Or “sinned against you.”
  46. Judges 11:27 tn Or “evil.”
  47. Judges 11:28 tn Heb “did not listen to.”
  48. Judges 11:28 tn Heb “Jephthah’s words which he sent to him.”
  49. Judges 11:29 tn Heb “was on.”
  50. Judges 11:29 tn Heb “passed through.”
  51. Judges 11:29 tn Heb “From Mizpah in Gilead he passed through [to] the Ammonites.”
  52. Judges 11:31 tn Heb “the one coming out, who comes out from.” The text uses a masculine singular participle with prefixed article, followed by a relative pronoun and third masculine singular verb. The substantival masculine singular participle הַיּוֹצֵא (hayyotseʾ, “the one coming out”) is used elsewhere of inanimate objects (such as a desert [Num 21:13] or a word [Num 32:24]) or persons (Jer 5:6; 21:9; 38:2). In each case context must determine the referent. Jephthah may have envisioned an animal meeting him, since the construction of Iron Age houses would allow for an animal coming through the doors of a house (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 208). But the fact that he actually does offer up his daughter indicates the language of the vow is fluid enough to encompass human beings, including women. He probably intended such an offering from the very beginning, but he obviously did not expect his daughter to meet him first.
  53. Judges 11:31 tn The language is fluid enough to include women and perhaps even animals, but the translation uses the masculine pronoun because the Hebrew form is grammatically masculine.
  54. Judges 11:31 tn Some translate “or,” suggesting that Jephthah makes a distinction between humans and animals. According to this view, if a human comes through the door, then Jephthah will commit him/her to the Lord’s service, but if an animal comes through the doors, he will offer it up as a sacrifice. However, it is far more likely that the Hebrew construction (vav [ו] + perfect) specifies how the subject will become the Lord’s, that is, by being offered up as a sacrifice. For similar constructions, where the apodosis of a conditional sentence has at least two perfects (each with vav) in sequence, see Gen 34:15-16; Exod 18:16.
  55. Judges 11:32 tn Heb “passed over to.”
  56. Judges 11:33 tn Heb “with a very great slaughter.”
  57. Judges 11:33 tn Heb “The Ammonites were humbled before the Israelites.”
  58. Judges 11:34 tn Heb “Look! His daughter was coming out.”
  59. Judges 11:34 tn Heb “with tambourines and dancing.”
  60. Judges 11:35 tn Heb “you have brought me very low,” or “you have knocked me to my knees.” The infinitive absolute precedes the verb for emphasis.
  61. Judges 11:35 tn Heb “You are among [or “like”] those who trouble me.”
  62. Judges 11:35 tn Heb “I opened my mouth to the Lord and I am not able to return.”
  63. Judges 11:36 tn The conjunction “since” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
  64. Judges 11:36 tn Heb “you opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to [what] went out from your mouth.”
  65. Judges 11:36 tn Or “has given you vengeance against.”
  66. Judges 11:37 tn Heb “Let this thing be done for me.”
  67. Judges 11:37 tn Heb “Leave me alone for two months so I can go and go down on the hills and weep over my virginity—I and my friends.”
  68. Judges 11:38 tn Heb “he sent her.”
  69. Judges 11:38 tn Heb “on the hills.” The words “as she walked” are supplied.
  70. Judges 11:39 tn Heb “She had never known a man.” Some understand this to mean that her father committed her to a life of celibacy, but the disjunctive clause (note the vav + subject + verb pattern) more likely describes her condition at the time the vow was fulfilled. (See G. F. Moore, Judges [ICC], 302-3; C. F. Burney, Judges, 324.) She died a virgin and never experienced the joys of marriage and motherhood.
  71. Judges 11:39 tn Heb “There was a custom in Israel.”
  72. Judges 11:40 tn Heb “From days to days,” a Hebrew idiom for “annually.”
  73. Judges 11:40 tn Heb “go to commemorate.” The rare Hebrew verb תָּנָה (tanah, “to tell; to repeat; to recount”) occurs only here and in 5:11.
  74. Judges 11:40 tn The Hebrew text adds, “in the year.” This is redundant (note “every year” at the beginning of the verse) and has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
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Judges 11
King James Version

11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:

6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.

12 And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?

13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:

15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

17 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.

19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

21 And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.

23 So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

24 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.

25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?

27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands.

33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.

36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

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,

40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

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