Jephthah

One of the "judges" whose exploits on Israel's behalf are recorded in Judg 11-12.

Jephthah (pronounced yef-tha) came from a very broken home in Gilead, being a bastard born to the family by a prostitute. When his own children were grown they drove him from home and disinherited him. He was, however, a "mighty warrior," and was soon able to establish himself as the head of a gang of adventurers (11:1-3).

When Israel was harassed by the Ammonites, however, the elders who had treated him badly in the past turned to him for help. Despite an attempt to parley for a settlement, the Ammonites remained hostile. In the war that ensued, Jephthah "devastated twenty" Ammonite towns (v33). His victory, though, brought him no joy. Before setting out for battle he had made the reckless oath to sacrifice as a burnt offering whatever came out of the door of his house to meet him when he returned should the Lord give him victory (v30-31). "It" turned out to be his daughter. Additionally, the Ephraimites got upset that they had been left out of the fighting. The quarrel escalated into open battle in which "forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed" (12:6).

For a more detailed exposition see commentary on Judges 11

Resources:

☰ Tamie S. Davis, "The Condemnation of Jephthah," Tyndale Bulletin 64.1 (2013): 1-17.