Page 8 - October 2026 - Truth & Tidings

military manoeuvres, and, a fortiori, the circumstances throws the ferocity of
horrors of human sacrifice belong to Jephthah’s response into high relief, as
another, alien world. But for all of that, the Jordan runs red with the blood of his
Jephthah’s story has an urgent and impor- brethren simply because his “shibboleth”
tant message for us. Too often in families was their “sibboleth.” Forty-two thousand
and in assemblies, men have been willing of God’s people lay dead. Jephthah’s
to sacrifice future generations and the authority was imposed upon the people
hope of a spiritual progeny on the altar of (who, after all that, would have dared to
their own pride. Rather than say “Sorry” challenge him?), but while the account
or “I was wrong,” they send the future ends with the expected summary – “Je-
up in flames. phthah judged Israel six years” – it once
And, as with Jephthah, the damage again departs from the earlier pattern of
is seldom limited to one person. From the book in that there is no mention of rest.
the performance of his vow, Jephthah James’ solemn and searching verses on
goes on to the wholesale, cold-blooded the tongue serve as something of a com-
slaughter of the Ephraimites. The man mentary on the life of Jephthah. He used
who in chapter 11 used his tongue when his tongue with exceptional ability, but, in
he should have used a sword (for the his pride, it brought disaster for his fam-
notion of a negotiated peace is foreign to ily, the future and the people of God. May
the conquest and defence of Canaan) now God help us to learn the solemn lessons
uses his sword when he should have used of his sad life. 6
his tongue. To be sure, Ephraim was in
the wrong and, undoubtedly, there was, 6 It is important to acknowledge that Jephthah
to some degree, a threat to the safety of is one of the most contested characters in
Jephthah and his house. As we have Scripture and that his life, vow and sacrifice
5
seen, however, the contrast with Gideon’s have been interpreted in myriad ways. See,
for an overview, David J. Zucker, “Jephthah:
more emollient approach in similar Faithful Fighter; Faithless Father – Ancient and
Contemporary Views,” Biblical Theology Bulletin,
5 “House” is a resonant word in Jephthah’s story 52:1, 37-47, and for a trenchant statement of a
(see 11:2,7,31,34). Given that the word can refer to much more positive reading of Jephthah, the
a physical dwelling place or to a family or family series of articles “In Defence of Jephthah” by
line, there seems more than a trace of irony here: Huw Rees, which appeared in this magazine in
Jephthah has already burned his own house. April, June, July and October 2025.

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296 TRUTH kTidings October 2026