1. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …

2. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth When The Judges Ruled Israel

3. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  Jephthah certainly “gave his daughter” to the Lord [NO DOUBT]  Was this “giving” = a burnt offering?  The text states in Judg. 12:39… Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow “…he did to her according to the vow which he had made”

4. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  The text does not state she was slain and offered up in a fire  Many believe Jephthah “gave her” over to a celibate lifestyle in service to the Lord  The phrase in v. 39 “…and she had no relations with a man” is compelling  Some women did so “serve” 1 Sam 2:22 Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

5. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  More “comparisons” others make…  Hannah’s vow 1 Sam 1:11  Hannah pledged her son’s entire life to God as alive  Jephthah pledged a burnt offering… nothing could live through that Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

6. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  More “comparisons” others make…  Abraham’s sacrifice Gen 22:2, 9-12  There is no comparison…Abraham was commanded by God to offer Isaac up in a burnt offering  God knew Abraham was willing to obey a difficult command…He stopped him Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

7. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  The atrocity of a human sacrifice was not really seen until late in the Judean kings 2 Kings 16:3 21:6  It was so atrocious the record states it was one of their worst offenses  If Jephthah offered up his daughter, the record would mention, condemn it Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

8. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  Would Israel’s daughters annually commemorate a human sacrifice?  It must have been something “proper”  They would not have paid homage to the act of a slain & sacrificed human… something described as an “abomination to the Lord” Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

9. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  A total dedication of a person to the service of Jehovah would be worthy of annual commemoration  She willingly sacrificed herself because of her father’s vow…she gave up her opportunity to be a mother Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

10. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth  This appeared to be what grieved Jephthah so much  She was his only child…he would not be able to be a grandfather  As a comparison, Hannah had other children 1 Sam 2:21 Some Additional Closing Thoughts On Jephthah’s Vow

11. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  The men of Ephraim complain v. 1  Just like before re: Gideon 8:1  The complaint was against Jephthah for under-utilizing them against Ammon  They threaten to burn down Jephthah’s house upon him

12. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  His answer to the men of Ephraim vv. 2-3  He states something not recorded in Judg 11  When the battle against Ammon began, he summoned Ephraim to come help vv. 2-3a  When he saw they weren’t going to respond, he was forced to go ahead on his own v. 3b

13. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  “Civil war” in Israel vv. 4-6  All of Gilead came to war against Ephraim… Gilead prevailed v. 4a  Apparently Gilead was willing to engage Ephraim in battle because Ephraim had “slandered” Gilead v. 4b

14. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  The aftermath of defeating Ammon  “Civil war” in Israel vv. 4-6  Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan to prevent Ephraimites from escaping v. 5a  Ephraimites trying to cross were subjected to a “verbal test”…those exposed were slain  Over 42,000 were slain vv. 5b-6

15. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  Comparing Jephthah & Gideon  Both dealt with Ephraimite complaints  Gideon praised Ephraim for their actions… he told them they were important 8:1-3  Jephthah demanded to know what right they had to complain…he proceeded to deal with them harshly & militarily 12:2-6

16. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  Comparing Jephthah & Gideon  Both dealt with Ephraimite complaints  The difference between these 2 judges may lie in Ephraim’s response to a call for help  Ephraim answered Gideon’s call 7:24-25  Ephraim did not answer Jephthah’s call 12:2

17. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Jephthah’s Judgeship Judg 12:1-7  He judged Israel only 6 years…he was buried in Gilead after his death v. 7

18. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Ibzan’s Judgeship Judg 12:8-10  The 9th judge was from Bethlehem  Most likely, the “Bethlehem” in Zebulun… Judah’s “Bethlehem” was noted Mic 5:2  He had 30 sons & 30 daughters who married “outside” (either outside his family or outside the nation of Israel)

19. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Ibzan’s Judgeship Judg 12:8-10  If the spouses for his children came from outside Israel, this would have been yet another indication of weak spiritual conditions in Israel Deut 7  He judged for 7 years before his death

20. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Elon’s Judgeship Judg 12:11-12  The 10th judge was from Zebulun  He judged Israel 10 years before his death

21. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth Abdon’s Judgeship Judg 12:13-15  The 11th judge was from Ephraim  He had 40 sons & 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys (wealth, social status)  He judged Israel 8 years before his death

22. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …