The tribes beyond the Jordan having resolved to op- pose the Ammonites, to whom the Israelites had fallen under subjection after the tltath of Jair, in consequence of relapsing into idolatrj', Jephthah seems to have occur- red to every one as the most fitting leader. A deputation was accordingly sent to invite him to take the command. After some demur, on account of the treatment he had formerly received, he consented to become their captain on the condition — solemnly ratified before the Lord in Mizpeh — that, in the event of his success against Am- mon, he should still remain as their acknowledged head The rude hero commenced his operations with a degree of dijilomatic consideration and dignity for which we are not prepared. The Ammonites being assembled in force for one of those ravaging incursions by which thej'- had repeatedly desolated the land, he sent to their camp a formal complaint of the invasion, and a demand of the ground of their proceeding. This is highly interesting, because it shows that, even in that age, a cause for war was judged necessary, no one being supposed to war without provocation; and, in this case, Jephthah de- manded what cause the Ammonites alleged to justifj^ their aggressive operations. Their answer was, that the land of the Israelites beyond the Jordan was theirs. It had originally belonged to them, from whom it had been taken by the Amorites, who had been dispossessed by the Israelites, and on this ground they claimed the res- titution of these lands. Jephthah's reply laid down the just princi])le which has been followed out in the prac- tice of civilized nations, and is maintained by all the great wTiters on the law of nations. The land belonged to the Israelites by right of conquest from tlie actual possessors, and they coiUd not be expected to recognise any antecedent claim of former jKissessors, for whom they had not acted, who had rendered them no assist- ance, and who had themselves displayed hostility against the Israelites. It was not to be expected that they would conquer the countVy from the powerfid kings who had it in possession, for the mere purpose of restor- ing it to the ancient occupants, of whom they had no favorable knowledge, and of whose i)revious claims they
JEPHTHAH
were scarcely cognizant. But the Ammonites reassert- ed their former views, and on this issue they took the field. Animated by a consciousness of divine aid, Jeph- thah hastened to meet them, defeated them in several pitched battles, followed them with great slaughter, and utterly broke their dominion over the eastern Israel- ites (Judg. xi, 4-33). See Pagenstecher, Jephtes (Lem- go, 1746).
The victory over the Ammonites was followed by a quarrel with the proud and powerful Ephraimites on the west side of the Jordan. This tribe was displeased at having had no share in the glory of the recent victo- ry, and a large body of men belonging to it, who had crossed the river to share in the action, used verj- high and threatening language when they foimd their serv- ices were not required. Jephthah, finding his remon- strances had no effect, reassembled some of his disband- ed troops and gave the Ephraimites battle, when they were defeated with immense loss. The victors seized the fords of the Jordan, and, when any one came to pass over, they made him pronounce the word " Shibboleth" (ati ear of corn) ; but if he coidd not give the aspira- tion, and pronounced the word as "Sibboleth," they knew him for an Ephraimite. and slew him ou the spot (Judg. xii, 1-6).
The remainder of Jephthah's nde was peaceful, and, at his death, he left the country quiet to his successor Ibzan. He was buried in his native region, in one of the cities of Gilead (Judg. xii, 7).
jEriiTiiAH's Vow When Jephthah set forth against
the Ammonites, he solemnly vowed to the Lord, '"If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Amnion into my hands, then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth [i. e. first] of the doors of my house to meet nie, when I return in peace from the children of Animon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering" (Judg. xi, 30,31). He was victorious: the Ammonites sustained a terrible overthrow. He did return in peace to his house in Mizpeh. As he drew nigh his house, the one that came forth to meet him was his own daughter — his only child, in whom liis heart was bound up. She, with her fair companions, came to greet the triumphant hero " with timbrels and with dances." But he no sooner saw her than he rent his robes, and cried, "Alas! my daughter, thou hast brought me very low .... for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and cannot go back." Nor did she ask I it. She replied, " 3Iy father, if thou hast opened thy j mouth inito the Lord, do to me according to that which has proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, the children of Amnion." But, after a pause, she added, " Let this thing be done for me : let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the moun- tains and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows." Her father, of course, assented, and when the time expired she returned, and, we are told, " he did with her accord- ing to his vow." It is then added that it became " a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went year- ly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite three days in the year" (Judg. xi, 34-40).