Judg 11:30-12:7 | TNotes

11:31 ^a Nowhere does the Lord demand such bargaining for his favor. Vows were made under a variety of circumstances and usually involved some gift (offering) dedicated to the Lord in response to his aid (cp. Gen 28:20-22 ^b). The more common preparation for battle was priestly sacrifice (1 Sam 13:8-12 ^c). Jephthah’s vow created the possibility that some person in his household would become a human sacrifice, an act strictly forbidden in Israelite law (Deut 18:10 ^d).
11:32 ^e No connection is drawn between the victory, which was the Lord’s gift, and Jephthah’s vow.
11:35 ^f Having made an impulsive vow, Jephthah now compounded his folly by blaming the result on his daughter and by failing to respond in light of Scripture. Vows taken were usually inviolable (Num 30:2 ^g), though the Old Testament recognizes a few circumstances under which an unwise vow could be set aside (Num 30:6-8 ^h). Since human sacrifice was forbidden in the law, a substitute could have been made (see Lev 27:1-8 ⁱ). Jephthah was apparently unaware of these principles in God’s law, perhaps because of his upbringing in an area far from Israel’s major centers.
11:39 ^j Jephthah kept the vow by sacrificing his daughter—there is no evidence that he merely kept her permanently celibate (cp. 11:37 ^k). Jephthah’s folly demonstrates just how far Israel’s society had descended into lawlessness and apostasy.

‏ Judges 12:1-7

Summary for Judg 12:1-6: 12:1-6 ^l Ephraim once again felt neglected (cp. 8:1-3 ^m) and sought revenge. In contrast to Gideon’s policy, Jephthah’s response blamed Ephraim and resulted in civil war. 12:1 ⁿ Zaphon was just east of the Jordan River, across from the tribal area of Ephraim.
12:2 ^o There is no record of Jephthah’s earlier appeal.
12:4 ^p It is unclear why the people of Ephraim were taunting the men of Gilead. Perhaps they resented or looked down on the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River.
12:5 ^q The Jordan River could only be forded at shallow crossings where tributaries had deposited silt, as was probably the case where the Jabbok flowed into the Jordan.
12:6 ^r The term Shibboleth has come to mean any password used to identify imposters. Such linguistic litmus tests have been used by armies throughout history.

• 42,000 Ephraimites: This number could possibly be translated as “42 troops” (see study note on Exod 12:37).
12:7 ^s six years: Like all the judges after Gideon, Jephthah’s years as judge were specific and short (see study note on 8:28). Jephthah was buried honorably, so despite his limitations he was an inspired and successful warrior (11:29 ^t; contrast Abimelech, study note on 9:54-55).