Page 10 - August 2026 - Truth & Tidings

n the previous article in this series we the benefit of the doubt in coming to that
considered the content of Jephthah’s evaluation. Our task is to decide just how
Ivow. In this article, we will consider much doubt there is.
the character of that vow. Was it an expres- The immediate context of Jephthah’s
sion of faith or of unbelief, an admirable vow tends to confirm this positive pic-
example of piety, or a cynical attempt ture: “Then the Spirit of the LORD came
to force God’s hand? It is, as we have upon Jephthah, and he passed … over
seen, typical of Judges that the narrator unto the children of Ammon … And
provides no commentary to answer these Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD”
questions for us. Rather, the text forces us (Jdg 11:29-30). The expression “the Spirit
to look for clues to the answer: once again of the Lord came upon” is a characteristic
we see evidence that the narrator wants one in Judges: it is used of Othniel (3:10),
us to read the text with our moral senses Gideon (6:34), Jephthah (11:29) and Sam-
fully alert and engaged. The textual clues son (14:6,19; 15:14). It is also used in rela-
within the book of Judges have primacy tion to Saul (1Sa 10:6), David (1Sa 16:13),
in guiding our conclusions but, before Jahaziel (2Ch 20:14), Zechariah (2Ch 24:20)
considering them, it is timely to remind and Ezekiel (Ezk 11:5). Such an infusion
ourselves of the references to Jephthah of divine power in the immediate context
outside of the book of Judges. These are of Jephthah’s vow might seem to invite
glancing but positive. Both 1 Samuel the conclusion that the vow, as much
12:11 (“the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and as the military movement, was made in
Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel”) and response to the impulse of the Spirit of
1
Hebrews 11:32 associate Jephthah with the Lord. If that is the case, all discussion
distinguished figures from the history of of textual clues and moral ambiguity is
the nation, even if his juxtaposition with moot. However, a closer examination of
Samson in Hebrews 11 reminds us that the way in which the expression is used
even heroes of faith are men who fail. in Judges suggests that this conclusion is
While these references are not sufficient not justified. With the exception of Judges
to determine our evaluation of Jephthah’s 13:25, on every other occasion the Spirit of
character or his vow, they are relevant and the Lord enables a specific act, military in
suggest that we ought, at least, to give him the case of the earlier Judges and rather
more assorted in the case of Samson.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the Judges 13:25, which says of Samson that
KJV. “the Spirit of the LORD began to move

234 TRUTH kTidings August 2026