Today’s readings: Judges 7, Judges 8, Judges 9, Judges 10, Judges 11 Listen to the passage online:Judges 7 to 11 at BibleGateway.com Why this episode matters: The story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11 has caused many listeners to question the goodness and character of God. In this episode, “A Foolish Vow,” we slow down, look at the language and the larger context, and see how a difficult story, read carefully, actually points us back to a wise and faithful God. Entities: Jephthah, Gideon, Abimelech, Judges 7 to 11, Israel, Midian, Ammon, Hannah, Samuel, Molech, Billy Graham, Increase Mather, Catherine Booth, Salvation Army, Finland, Modesto Manifesto. Episode summary In this History Tuesday episode of the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind we are in the book of Judges, walking through chapters 7 to 11. We begin with Gideon’s famous three hundred, move through the dark and violent story of Abimelech, and then spend extended time with Jephthah, his vow, and his daughter. Along the way we see how God works through flawed people, how He refuses to share His glory with human pride, and how easily His people forget Him when life gets comfortable again. In Judges 7 we hear how God deliberately whittles Gideon’s army down until it is obvious that the victory belongs to the Lord and not to human strength. In Judges 8 and 9 we watch what happens after the victory, when Gideon’s compromises and the ambition of his son Abimelech lead to idolatry, political violence, and grief. Judges 10 and 11 show us Israel’s repeated slide back into sin, God’s discipline through foreign enemies, and His mercy when His people cry out for help. The reading sets up the big question of the day. What exactly happened with Jephthah’s vow and his daughter, and what does that say about God. This is not a quick soundbite passage. It asks us to bring familiarity with Scripture, a willingness to look at the original language, and a commitment to read the story in context instead of yanking out a single verse. Commentary: Jephthah, his vow, and the character of God In the commentary section Steve walks slowly through the Jephthah story. We are reminded that Jephthah is a brave but complicated man, the son of a prostitute, rejected by his brothers, surrounded by men that society labelled as worthless. Yet the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him when God raises him up to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. The key tension is Jephthah’s vow. Many translations read as if he promised a human sacrifice. Steve takes us into the Hebrew word asher, which is most often translated as “which” or “whatever,” and shows how that affects the way we understand the promise. He also points to Leviticus and Deuteronomy, where God clearly condemns human sacrifice as something He hates and never commanded. Jephthah knew the Scriptures well enough to argue history and theology with the king of Ammon, so it makes little sense to say that he thought God would be pleased with a human burnt offering. Instead, Steve explains the view that Jephthah’s vow had two possible outcomes. If what came out of the house was suitable for sacrifice, it would be offered as a burnt offering. If it was not suitable, it would be consecrated to lifelong service to the Lord. When Jephthah’s only daughter comes out to greet him, his grief is tied to the end of his family line, not to the loss of an oppo