Vows are dangerous

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Judges 10-12

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Judges arise from various tribes with no apparent inherited authority, so I assume that, like Deborah, they are gifted.

But the cycle returns of Israel following other gods and suffering oppression by surrounding nations.

Who rises up to take command but Jephthah, the bastard outcast and outlaw. The elders of Gilead begged him to lead when faced with war after they had thrown him out for being the son of a prostitute.

Unfortunately, Jephthah vowed that if he succeeds, then "then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the Lord’s, to be offered up by me as a burnt offering.” 

It turned out to be his daughter, his only offspring. After two months, Jephthah "did with her according to the vow he had made." Chapter 11 doesn't suggest that the LORD was pleased by this, but unlike Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, he didn't put a stop to it either (although, in that instance, Abraham had not made a vow).

After this, Jephthah fought a civil war with the Ephraimites. His was not a happy story.

Fulfilling a vow seems more important than life and death, as if one's soul is at stake. They should be made rarely, and definitely not impulsively.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles (subscribe), The Daily Bible Chapter (subscribe), JL Cells (subscribe), and The MVP Chase (subscribe). Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.

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