Did Jephthah Really Offer Up His Daughter?
We believe that Jephthah did not take away the life of his daughter. From the narrative we are led to regard the vow as implying that the object designated was to be offered to God in such a manner as circumstances would permit; had it been an animal not prohibited, then, in fulfillment of the vow, it would have been presented. As human sacrifices were in the highest degree offensive to God, Jephthah's daughter, who was the destined offering, was set apart for religious duties in her unmarried state, and as such she passed the remainder of her days unaffianced; and as by this seclusion her hope of establishing a household and ranking among the mothers of Israel, and also of being among the progenitors of the promised Messiah, was destroyed, her companions were accustomed yearly to visit her, to express we may presume their sympathy with her seclusion, and their esteem of her filial obedience. We must not allow this inquiry to terminate without some remarks on the obligation incurred by vows. Men are not at liberty to perform unlawful acts in consequence of having bound themselves by oaths or by vows. They are prohibited by the fact that they were under a prior obligation, which precludes the right of making unlawful vows, or taking such oath. The sin, therefore consists in making unlawful vows, and not in breaking them. Men may deem it their duty to fulfill an unrighteous vow, but they ought to know that God will accept no action that comes into His presence charged with the murder of other duties.—Sel.