Did This Jephthah Really Sacrifice His Own Daughter?
The Jephthah’s daughter Bible story in Judges 11 has puzzled scholars and believers for centuries, raising difficult questions about faith, sacrifice, and the nature of biblical narrative. In this episode, hosts Catherine Shifferdecker and Katie Langston welcome back Dennis Olson, Professor of Old Testament Theology Emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of the New Interpreter Commentary on Judges, to explore this controversial passage. The discussion centers on whether Jephthah actually sacrificed his daughter or dedicated her to lifelong service to God, examining the ambiguous Hebrew text and the various interpretive traditions that have emerged over time.
Professor Olson provides crucial context for understanding this Jephthah’s daughter Bible story, including Jephthah’s background as an outcast turned judge, his negotiations with the Ammonites, and the significance of his vow in light of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. The conversation explores how this narrative fits into the larger theme of moral decline in Judges, where “everyone did what was right in their own eyes,” and draws parallels to other biblical stories including Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac and Saul’s vow regarding Jonathan. Through scholarly analysis and thoughtful discussion, this episode demonstrates that not every story in the Bible serves as a moral example, but rather some narratives function as cautionary tales about the dangers of acting without community wisdom and divine guidance.
ORIGINAL QUESTION SUBMITTED BY A LISTENER LIKE YOU:
“Did Japheth sacrifice his daughter in Judges 11? He made a vow that he’d offer a burnt offering of the first living creature to greet him after returning home victorious or something, and it was his daughter? And then he decided he needed to follow through with it? Couldn’t God have let him off the hook?”
BIBLE REFERENCES:
- Judges 11 – The story of Jephthah and his daughter (primary text)
- Judges 21:25 – Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes, there was no king in the land.”
- Genesis 22 – Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac; suggests that humans should not sacrifice children (parallel story)
- 1 Samuel 14:24-45 – Saul’s vow and Jonathan’s near death (parallel story)
- Hebrews 11:32 – Hall of faith that includes Jephthah. Complicating detail:Â Jephthah is listed as a hero of faith in the Book of Hebrews
- Deuteronomy – Laws against child sacrifice
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Texts of Terror by Phyllis Trible
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