Judges 11:31 - then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
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What does "Judges 11:31" mean?
This verse is from Judges 11:31, and it's part of a vow made by Jephthah, one of the judges of Israel. The verse describes Jephthah's rash vow to God (Yahweh) before going into battle against the Ammonites. Let's break down what it means:
"then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me..." This refers to whatever living thing (animal or person) first exits Jephthah's house when he returns victorious.
"...when I return in peace from the children of Ammon..." This sets the condition of the vow: it only applies if Jephthah returns victorious from the war.
"...it shall be Yahweh’s..." This means that whatever comes out of his house will be dedicated or consecrated to God.
"...and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." This is the most difficult and controversial part. A burnt offering was a sacrifice completely consumed by fire on an altar as an offering to God.
The Interpretation and Controversy:
The core of the issue is whether Jephthah intended to sacrifice a human being if that's what came out of his house. There are different interpretations:
1. Literal Sacrifice: This interpretation states that Jephthah fully intended to offer whatever came out of his house, even a human, as a burnt offering. This view highlights Jephthah's recklessness and lack of proper understanding of God's will. Sacrificing humans was forbidden by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 12:31, Leviticus 18:21).
2. Dedication to Service: Some scholars argue that the phrase "burnt offering" could also mean complete dedication to God's service, particularly if the person was a woman. In this case, Jephthah's daughter, who was the first to greet him, might have been dedicated to lifelong service in the Tabernacle, possibly living in celibacy. This interpretation tries to reconcile Jephthah's actions with the prohibition against human sacrifice. This is based on the idea that because only living things were acceptable for the type of sacrifice, and he didn't specify what living thing he was referring to, it would indicate it was impossible to dedicate a human as a burnt offering.
3. Possible Animal Sacrifice: A possible interpretation is that if an animal would have been sacrificed, the vow was still completed. The Bible doesn't give us explicit context to know what animal would be considered acceptable.
The Outcome:
The story continues in Judges 11:34-40. When Jephthah returns victorious, his daughter is the first to greet him. He is devastated, realizing the implications of his vow. The Bible explicitly states that he did what he vowed to do (Judges 11:39). The exact nature of what he did is not stated though. The daughters of Israel mourned her fate for four days each year (Judges 11:40). This practice seems to be a lament for her lack of children, rather than being a celebration of her sacrifice. This aligns with the second interpretation above, that it would be difficult to dedicate a human to be a burnt offering.
Key Takeaways:
Rash Vows: The story serves as a cautionary tale about making rash vows to God without careful consideration.
Consequences: Jephthah's vow had tragic consequences for him and his daughter.
God's Character: It raises questions about God's character. Did God require or approve of human sacrifice? Most theologians would argue that he did not, and that Jephthah's actions were a result of his own flawed judgment. God had previously forbidden human sacrifice.
Complexity of Interpretation: The passage is complex and open to different interpretations, reflecting the challenges of understanding ancient texts.
In conclusion, Judges 11:31 is a troubling verse that highlights the dangers of making impulsive promises to God. It has been interpreted in various ways, with some scholars believing that Jephthah literally sacrificed his daughter, while others argue that she was dedicated to a life of service in the Tabernacle. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of careful thought and obedience to God's laws.
Judges 11:31 - then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
What does "Judges 11:31" mean?
This verse is from Judges 11:31, and it's part of a vow made by Jephthah, one of the judges of Israel. The verse describes Jephthah's rash vow to God (Yahweh) before going into battle against the Ammonites. Let's break down what it means:
"then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me..." This refers to whatever living thing (animal or person) first exits Jephthah's house when he returns victorious.
"...when I return in peace from the children of Ammon..." This sets the condition of the vow: it only applies if Jephthah returns victorious from the war.
"...it shall be Yahweh’s..." This means that whatever comes out of his house will be dedicated or consecrated to God.
"...and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." This is the most difficult and controversial part. A burnt offering was a sacrifice completely consumed by fire on an altar as an offering to God.
The Interpretation and Controversy:
The core of the issue is whether Jephthah intended to sacrifice a human being if that's what came out of his house. There are different interpretations:
1. Literal Sacrifice: This interpretation states that Jephthah fully intended to offer whatever came out of his house, even a human, as a burnt offering. This view highlights Jephthah's recklessness and lack of proper understanding of God's will. Sacrificing humans was forbidden by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 12:31, Leviticus 18:21).
2. Dedication to Service: Some scholars argue that the phrase "burnt offering" could also mean complete dedication to God's service, particularly if the person was a woman. In this case, Jephthah's daughter, who was the first to greet him, might have been dedicated to lifelong service in the Tabernacle, possibly living in celibacy. This interpretation tries to reconcile Jephthah's actions with the prohibition against human sacrifice. This is based on the idea that because only living things were acceptable for the type of sacrifice, and he didn't specify what living thing he was referring to, it would indicate it was impossible to dedicate a human as a burnt offering.
3. Possible Animal Sacrifice: A possible interpretation is that if an animal would have been sacrificed, the vow was still completed. The Bible doesn't give us explicit context to know what animal would be considered acceptable.
The Outcome:
The story continues in Judges 11:34-40. When Jephthah returns victorious, his daughter is the first to greet him. He is devastated, realizing the implications of his vow. The Bible explicitly states that he did what he vowed to do (Judges 11:39). The exact nature of what he did is not stated though. The daughters of Israel mourned her fate for four days each year (Judges 11:40). This practice seems to be a lament for her lack of children, rather than being a celebration of her sacrifice. This aligns with the second interpretation above, that it would be difficult to dedicate a human to be a burnt offering.
Key Takeaways:
Rash Vows: The story serves as a cautionary tale about making rash vows to God without careful consideration.
Consequences: Jephthah's vow had tragic consequences for him and his daughter.
God's Character: It raises questions about God's character. Did God require or approve of human sacrifice? Most theologians would argue that he did not, and that Jephthah's actions were a result of his own flawed judgment. God had previously forbidden human sacrifice.
Complexity of Interpretation: The passage is complex and open to different interpretations, reflecting the challenges of understanding ancient texts.
In conclusion, Judges 11:31 is a troubling verse that highlights the dangers of making impulsive promises to God. It has been interpreted in various ways, with some scholars believing that Jephthah literally sacrificed his daughter, while others argue that she was dedicated to a life of service in the Tabernacle. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of careful thought and obedience to God's laws.