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(Heb 11:33-34)? In the light of such narrative like Judges, it is important that
an imprimatur, should we not sim- we read it as narrative, that we allow the
ply assume that Jephthah’s actions story to guide our understanding of the
should be interpreted in a positive light? characters, their motivation and their ac-
The issue, however, is not so simple as tions. It is imperative, then, that we notice
that, a reality that is attested by the fact the setting of Jephthah’s narrative within
that Jephthah’s name appears in juxtaposi- the wider framework of Judges. Judges
tion with those of Barak and Samson. It is, 10:6ff. provides a striking and significant
of course, true that no one mentioned in backdrop to the story.
Hebrews 11 lived a perfect life; even the The section opens in a way that is, by
greatest of these witnesses was marked by now, all too familiar: “And the children
failure. But it would be a more than usu- of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
ally swashbuckling interpreter who would LORD” (v6). Once again – how significant
deny that the lives of Barak and, especially, the adverb is – Israel slides into idolatry:
of Samson were marked by failure. And “and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and
while Barak’s moment of weakness seems the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon,
to have been an isolated event, Samson’s and the gods of Moab, and the gods of
failures are so plentiful as to be persua- the children of Ammon, and the gods of
sive. The fact of a mention in Hebrews 11, the Philistines, and forsook the LORD,
then, does not give us sufficient grounds and served not him.” For the fourth time
to assume that Jephthah’s actions were in the book, we read, “And the anger of
always – or even mostly – good. Indeed, the LORD was hot against Israel, and he
even leaving the issue of his vow and the sold them into the hands of …” (v7). For
eventual fate of his daughter to one side, the sixth time, we read that “the children
it is difficult to see Jephthah’s treatment of Israel cried unto the LORD” (v10). The
of Ephraim in chapter 12 as the actions of pattern of Judges is repeating itself one
a man in fellowship with God – a point more time and our response might well be
that is only heightened by the marked a weary “here we go again”; that, in fact,
contrast with Gideon’s more diplomatic is precisely the response that the narrator
response to a similar situation in chapter 9. is seeking. But then the pattern breaks.
All of our experience in Judges so far has
The mention of Jephthah in Hebrews 11, set us up to expect that Israel’s cry will
then, does not mean that we must read his be followed by divine intervention: the
account as the story of a hero. But it does raising up of a new judge who will deliver
mean that we cannot simply dismiss him the nation and give them, however tem-
as a villain. Like the other judges (or the porarily, a period of peace. But now God
other individuals in Hebrews 11), Jeph- speaks: “Ye have forsaken me, and served
thah is not the sort of two-dimensional other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no
figure that we might find in a children’s more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye
story. He is a real man, a compound of have chosen; let them deliver you in the
faith and of failure, of victory and defeat. time of your tribulation” (vv13-14). And
He is, in fact, very much like us. having spoken, starkly and sternly, He
As we have noted earlier in this series, falls silent. The confession and repentance
when we approach a book of biblical of the nation bring no audible response.
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