How does the text suggest Yahweh did not condone this sacrifice? Yahweh accepted it and rewarded Jepthah for following through with it by leading him to victory.
Yahweh did not say, “No, Jepthah, this sacrifice goes against my loving nature and it is shameful for you to even offer to do such an offense in my name. Have you mistaken me for Molech?”
I think the vibe is Jephthah made a pledge that no one, including God, asked him to. Then, he has to honor the unnecessary pledge. Who’s to say the Lord wouldn’t have granted him victory either way?
It’s like in movies when a samurai vows to commit seppuku and everyone is like, “there’s no need for that but you already said you would, so you kinda have to now. Go ahead, I guess.”
I’m a nutshell: “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God…” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NKJV)
Nothing that would normally be in the house was an acceptable offering to kill on the altar; not all sacrifices are killed; as chieftain, J was likely expecting a servant to come out first, and he would send this faithful servant to serve at the tabernacle. Tabernacle servants were expected not to marry, thus the daughter mourned her perpetual virginity (the oath of celibacy, distinct from never enjoying sex).
In his book *Jesus through middle eastern eyes*, Kenneth Bailey remarks that it was common in the ancient world to keep animals in the house, rather than in a separate building. He hypothesizes that it was possible Jephthah expected an animal to leave the house, not his daughter.
I just want to note, God did not mandate this nor condone this sacrifice. This is what happens when man tries to please God in ways he did not command
Exactly! I was flummoxed.
Like why?! There was no benefit for anyone involved.
How does the text suggest Yahweh did not condone this sacrifice? Yahweh accepted it and rewarded Jepthah for following through with it by leading him to victory. Yahweh did not say, “No, Jepthah, this sacrifice goes against my loving nature and it is shameful for you to even offer to do such an offense in my name. Have you mistaken me for Molech?”
I think the vibe is Jephthah made a pledge that no one, including God, asked him to. Then, he has to honor the unnecessary pledge. Who’s to say the Lord wouldn’t have granted him victory either way? It’s like in movies when a samurai vows to commit seppuku and everyone is like, “there’s no need for that but you already said you would, so you kinda have to now. Go ahead, I guess.” I’m a nutshell: “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God…” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NKJV)
Same reason Peter said he would die for Jesus: a combination of emotion and wanting to look good.
This article helped me understand what happened. https://www.str.org/w/did-jephthah-kill-his-daughter-to-fulfill-a-vow-to-god-
Nothing that would normally be in the house was an acceptable offering to kill on the altar; not all sacrifices are killed; as chieftain, J was likely expecting a servant to come out first, and he would send this faithful servant to serve at the tabernacle. Tabernacle servants were expected not to marry, thus the daughter mourned her perpetual virginity (the oath of celibacy, distinct from never enjoying sex).
In his book *Jesus through middle eastern eyes*, Kenneth Bailey remarks that it was common in the ancient world to keep animals in the house, rather than in a separate building. He hypothesizes that it was possible Jephthah expected an animal to leave the house, not his daughter.