Buber-Rosenzweig Translation OT (1929)

1Jiftach der Giladit war ein Wehrtüchtiger. Sohn eines Hurenweibs war er, aber Gilad hatte den Jiftach gezeugt. 2Auch das Eheweib Gilads gebar ihm Söhne, die Söhne des Eheweibs wurden groß, sie vertrieben Jiftach, sie sprachen zu ihm: Nicht sollst du im Haus unsres Vaters erbeignen, denn du bist eines anderen Weibes Sohn. 3Jiftach entwich vor seinen Brüdern und setzte sich fest im Lande Tob. Zu Jiftach finden sich leichte Männer zusammen, die fuhren mit ihm aus. 4Es geschah nun nach Tagen - die Söhne Ammons kriegten mit Jissrael - , 5es geschah, dieweil die Söhne Ammons mit Jissrael kriegten, die Ältesten von Gilad gingen, Jiftach aus dem Lande Tob heimzunehmen.. 6Sie sprachen zu Jiftach: Geh her, sei Befehlshaber uns, wir wollen die Söhne Ammons bekriegen. 7Jiftach sprach zu den Ältesten von Gilad: Wart ihrs nicht, die mich haßten, mich aus dem Haus meines Vaters trieben? weshalb kommt ihr zu mir jetzt, dieweil euch bang ist? 8Die Ältesten von Gilad sprachen zu Jiftach: Wohl, Jetzt haben wir uns dir zugekehrt: gehst du mit uns und bekriegst die Söhne Ammons, sollst du uns Haupt sein, allen Insassen von Gilad! 9Jiftach sprach zu den Ältesten von Gilad: Laßt ihr mich zurückkehren, die Söhne Ammons zu bekriegen, und gibt ER sie vor mich hin, werde also ich euch Haupt sein? 10Die Ältesten von Gilad sprachen zu Jiftach: ER sei Hörer zwischen uns: tun wir nicht so wie deine Rede ist, ...! 11Jiftach ging mit den Ältesten von Gilad, und das Volk, sie stellten ihn über sich zu Haupt und Befehlshaber, und Jiftach redete all seine Abrede vor IHM in Mizpa. 12Jiftach sandte Boten zum König der Söhne Ammons, zu sprechen: Was haben wir miteinander, ich und du, daß du zu mir kamst, mein Land zu bekriegen? 13Der König der Söhne Ammons sprach zu Jiftachs Boten: Daß Jissrael mein Land wegnahm, als es aus Ägypten heraufzog, vom Arnon bis zum Jabbok, - bis zum Jordan! - jetzt erstatte mir das also in Frieden zurück! 14Jiftach fuhr fort, er sandte nochmals Boten zum König der Söhne Ammons, 15er ließ zu ihm sprechen: So spricht Jiftach: Nicht hat Jissrael das Land Moab noch das Land der Söhne Ammons genommen. 16Sondern als sie aus Ägypten heraufzogen, ging Jissrael durch die Wüste bis zum Schilfmeer, es kam nach Kadesch, 17Jissrael sandte Boten zum König von Edom, zu sprechen: Laß mich doch dein Land queren! aber der König von Edom hörte nicht drauf. Auch zum König von Moab sandte es, und er war nicht gewillt. So saß Jissrael in Kadesch. 18Dann ging es weiter durch die Wüste und umkreiste das Land Edom und das Land Moab, es kam von Sonnenaufgang ans Land Moab, sie lagerten jenseits des Arnons, aber in die Gemarkung Moabs kamen sie nicht, denn der Arnon ist die Markgrenze Moabs. 19Jissrael sandte Boten zu Ssichon, dem Amoriterkönig, dem König in Cheschbon, Jissrael sprach zu ihm: Laß uns doch dein Land queren bis an meinen Ort. 20Aber Ssichon vertraute Jissrael nicht, daß es seine Gemarkung queren wolle. Ssichon holte all sein Heervolk zusammen, sie lagerten in Jahaz, und er kriegte gegen Jissrael. 21ER, der Gott Jissraels, gab Ssichon und all sein Volk in Jissraels Hand, die schlugen sie, Jissrael erbte alles Land des Amoriters, des Insassen jenes Lands, 22sie ererbten alle Gemarkung des Amoriters, vom Arnon bis zum Jabbok und von der Wüste bis zum Jordan. 23Nun denn, ER, der Gott Jissraels, hat den Amoriter vor seinem Volk Jissrael her enterbt, und du, du willst es beerben! 24Ists nicht so: wen Kmosch, dein Gott, dich beerben läßt, den magst du beerben, wen alles aber ER, unser Gott, vor uns her enterbt, den beerben wir! 25Nun denn, bist ein Besserer du, ein Besserer als Balak Sohn Zippors König von Moab? konnte er streiten, mit Jissrael streiten, konnte er kriegen, sie bekriegen? 26Da Jissrael saß in Cheschbon und seinen Tochterplätzen, in Aror und seinen Tochterplätzen, und in allen Städten, die zuseiten des Arnons sind, dreihundert Jahre, weshalb habt ihr die nicht in jener Zeit entrissen? 27Ich also habe an dir nicht gesündigt, aber du tust mir Böses, da du mich bekriegst. Richte ER der Richter heuttags zwischen den Söhnen Jissraels und den Söhnen Ammons! 28Aber der König der Söhne Ammons hörte nicht auf die Reden Jiftachs, mit denen er an ihn sandte. 29SEIN Geistbraus kam über Jiftach, hinüber schritt er nach dem Gilad und nach Mnasche, hinüber schritt er nach Mizpe in Gilad, von Mizpe in Gilad schritt er vor gegen die Söhne Ammons. 30Jiftach gelobte IHM ein Gelübde, er sprach: Gibst in meine Hand du, gibst die Söhne Ammons hin, 31werde, das ausfährt, was auch aus den Türen meines Hauses mir entgegen fahre, wann ich in Frieden zurück von den Söhnen Ammons kehre, das werde IHM, als Darhöhung will ich es höhen. 32Jiftach schritt gegen die Söhne Ammons vor, sie zu bekriegen, und ER gab sie in seine Hand, 33er schlug sie von Aroer bis wo du nach Minnit kommst, zwanzig Städte, und bis Weingartenau, einen sehr großen Schlag, gezwungen wurden die Söhne Ammons vor die Söhne Jissraels hin. 34Jiftach kam nach Mizpa zu seinem Haus, da, seine Tochter fährt aus ihm entgegen, mit Pauken, mit Reigentänzen. Und sie war die Einzige doch, nicht hatte er außer ihr Sohn oder Tochter. 35Es geschah, als er sie sah, er zerriß seine Kleider, er sprach: Weh, meine Tochter, du stürzest, stürzest mich hin, wirst mir, du, zur Zerrüttung! Ich habe, ich, meinen Mund zu IHM aufgemacht, ich kann nicht zurück! 36Sie sprach zu ihm: Mein Vater, du hast deinen Mund zu IHM aufgemacht, tu mir, wies dir aus dem Munde fuhr, nachdem ER dir das tat, Rachewerk an deinen Feinden, an den Söhnen Ammons! 37Und sprach zu ihrem Vater: Diese Sache werde für mich getan: laß noch von mir auf zwei Mondneuungen, ich will gehn, ich will über die Berge schweifen, will über meine Jungfrauschaft weinen, ich und meine Genossinnen. 38Er sprach: Geh! Er entsandte sie auf zwei Mondneuungen. Sie ging, sie und ihre Genossinnen, sie weinte über ihre Jungfrauschaft über die Berge hin. 39Es geschah nach Ablauf der zwei Mondneuungen: sie kehrte zu ihrem Vater zurück, und er tat an ihr sein Gelübde, das er angelobt hatte. Sie hatte einen Mann nicht erkannt. Sitte wurde es in Jissrael: 40von Tageswiederkunft zu Tageswiederkunft gehn die Töchter in Jissrael, wechselzusingen der Tochter Jiftachs des Giladiten, vier Tage im Jahr.


Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   JEPHTHAH. (Judg 11:1-Judg 11:3)
Jephthah--"opener."
son of an harlot--a concubine, or foreigner; implying an inferior sort of marriage prevalent in Eastern countries. Whatever dishonor might attach to his birth, his own high and energetic character rendered him early a person of note.
Gilead begat Jephthah--His father seems to have belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (1Chr 7:14, 1Chr 7:17).

 2   Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house--As there were children by the legitimate wife, the son of the secondary one was not entitled to any share of the patrimony, and the prior claim of the others was indisputable. Hence, as the brothers of Jephthah seem to have resorted to rude and violent treatment, they must have been influenced by some secret ill-will.

 3   Jephthah . . . dwelt in the land of Tob--on the north of Gilead, beyond the frontier of the Hebrew territories (2Sam 10:6, 2Sam 10:8).
there were gathered vain men to Jephthah--idle, daring, or desperate.
and went out with him--followed him as a military chief. They led a freebooting life, sustaining themselves by frequent incursions on the Ammonites and other neighboring people, in the style of Robin Hood. The same kind of life is led by many an Arab or Tartar still, who as the leader of a band, acquires fame by his stirring or gallant adventures. It is not deemed dishonorable when the expeditions are directed against those out of his own tribe or nation. Jephthah's mode of life was similar to that of David when driven from the court of Saul.

 4   THE GILEADITES COVENANT WITH JEPHTHAH. (Judg 11:4-Judg 11:11)
in process of time--on the return of the season.
the children of Ammon made war against Israel--Having prepared the way by the introduction of Jephthah, the sacred historian here resumes the thread of his narrative from Judg 10:17. The Ammonites seem to have invaded the country, and active hostilities were inevitable.

 5   the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah--All eyes were directed towards him as the only person possessed of the qualities requisite for the preservation of the country in this time of imminent danger; and a deputation of the chief men was despatched from the Hebrew camp at Mizpeh to solicit his services.

 7   Jephthah said, Did not ye hate me?--He gave them at first a haughty and cold reception. It is probable that he saw some of his brothers among the deputies. Jephthah was now in circumstances to make his own terms. With his former experience, he would have shown little wisdom or prudence without binding them to a clear and specific engagement to invest him with unlimited authority, the more especially as he was about to imperil his life in their cause. Although ambition might, to a certain degree, have stimulated his ready compliance, it is impossible to overlook the piety of his language, which creates a favorable impression that his roving life, in a state of social manners so different from ours, was not incompatible with habits of personal religion.

 10   the elders of Israel said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us--Their offer being accompanied by the most solemn oath, Jephthah intimated his acceptance of the mission, and his willingness to accompany them. But to make "assurance doubly sure," he took care that the pledge given by the deputies in Tob should be ratified in a general assembly of the people at Mizpeh; and the language of the historian, "Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord," seems to imply that his inauguration with the character and extraordinary office of judge was solemnized by prayer for the divine blessing, or some religious ceremonial.

 12   HIS EMBASSY TO THE KING OF AMMON. (Jdg. 11:12-28)
Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon--This first act in his judicial capacity reflects the highest credit on his character for prudence and moderation, justice and humanity. The bravest officers have always been averse to war; so Jephthah, whose courage was indisputable, resolved not only to make it clearly appear that hostilities were forced upon him, but to try measures for avoiding, if possible, an appeal to arms: and in pursuing such a course he was acting as became a leader in Israel (Deut 20:10-Deut 20:18).

 13   the king of Ammon . . ., Because Israel took away my land--(See on Deut 2:19). The subject of quarrel was a claim of right advanced by the Ammonite monarch to the lands which the Israelites were occupying. Jephthah's reply was clear, decisive, and unanswerable;--first, those lands were not in the possession of the Ammonites when his countrymen got them, and that they had been acquired by right of conquest from the Amorites [Judg 11:21]; secondly, the Israelites had now, by a lapse of three hundred years of undisputed possession, established a prescriptive right to the occupation [Judg 11:22-Judg 11:23]; and thirdly, having received a grant of them from the Lord, his people were entitled to maintain their right on the same principle that guided the Ammonites in receiving, from their god Chemosh, the territory they now occupied [Judg 11:24]. This diplomatic statement, so admirable for the clearness and force of its arguments, concluded with a solemn appeal to God to maintain, by the issue of events, the cause of right and justice [Judg 11:27].

 28   Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah--His remonstrances to the aggressor were disregarded, and war being inevitable, preparations were made for a determined resistance.

 29   HIS VOW. (Judg 11:29-Judg 11:31)
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah--The calm wisdom, sagacious forethought, and indomitable energy which he was enabled to display, were a pledge to himself and a convincing evidence to his countrymen, that he was qualified by higher resources than his own for the momentous duties of his office.
he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh--the provinces most exposed and in danger, for the purpose of levying troops, and exciting by his presence a widespread interest in the national cause. Returning to the camp at Mizpeh, he then began his march against the enemy. There he made his celebrated vow, in accordance with an ancient custom for generals at the outbreak of a war, or on the eve of a battle, to promise the god of their worship a costly oblation, or dedication of some valuable booty, in the event of victory. Vows were in common practice also among the Israelites. They were encouraged by the divine approval as emanating from a spirit of piety and gratitude; and rules were laid down in the law for regulating the performance. But it is difficult to bring Jephthah's vow within the legitimate range (see on Lev 27:28).

 31   whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me--This evidently points not to an animal, for that might have been a dog; which, being unclean, was unfit to be offered; but to a person, and it looks extremely as if he, from the first, contemplated a human sacrifice. Bred up as he had been, beyond the Jordan, where the Israelitish tribes, far from the tabernacle, were looser in their religious sentiments, and living latterly on the borders of a heathen country where such sacrifices were common, it is not improbable that he may have been so ignorant as to imagine that a similar immolation would be acceptable to God. His mind, engrossed with the prospect of a contest, on the issue of which the fate of his country depended, might, through the influence of superstition, consider the dedication of the object dearest to him the most likely to ensure success.
shall surely be the Lord's; and [or] I will offer it up for a burnt offering--The adoption of the latter particle, which many interpreters suggest, introduces the important alternative, that if it were a person, the dedication would be made to the service of the sanctuary; if a proper animal or thing, it would be offered on the altar.

 32   HE OVERCOMES THE AMMONITES. (Judg 11:32-Judg 11:33)
Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon . . . and the Lord delivered them into his hands--He met and engaged them at Aroer, a town in the tribe of Gad, upon the Arnon. A decisive victory crowned the arms of Israel, and the pursuit was continued to Abel (plain of the vineyards), from south to north, over an extent of about sixty miles.

 34   Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances--The return of the victors was hailed, as usual, by the joyous acclaim of a female band (1Sam 18:6), the leader of whom was Jephthah's daughter. The vow was full in his mind, and it is evident that it had not been communicated to anyone, otherwise precautions would doubtless have been taken to place another object at his door. The shriek, and other accompaniments of irrepressible grief, seem to indicate that her life was to be forfeited as a sacrifice; the nature of the sacrifice (which was abhorrent to the character of God) and distance from the tabernacle does not suffice to overturn this view, which the language and whole strain of the narrative plainly support; and although the lapse of two months might be supposed to have afforded time for reflection, and a better sense of his duty, there is but too much reason to conclude that he was impelled to the fulfilment by the dictates of a pious but unenlightened conscience.