There are few passages in Scripture that are more conflicting than Judges 11:29-40. The story of how Jepthah vowed a rash vow, went on to defeat the Ammonites, and then came home to be bound by that rash vow, resulting in him doing a thing God called an abomination tears at the heartstrings like few other passages. There is, however, way more to the story. Today we explore some of the backstory, as well as some of the aspects that Scripture leaves unsaid, like “Just who heard Jepthah vow this vow? Who was there with him when he got home, and what might have been their reaction? Did Jepthah have an ‘out’ to not have to perform an act God calls an abomination elsewhere? And why doesn’t God condemn the act here?” among others.
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