Jephthah's Daughter - In Her Own Words

Jephthah's Daughter
In Her Own Words

Hello, I am Jephthah's daughter. I have lived twelve winters with my father in the Land of Tob. Father was called "a mighty man of valor" but I knew him as a most gentle and loving man. Whenever he was away on a raiding party I always missed him so much and when he would come home he would immediately come to find me and I would stay by his side. My mother died the day I was born and my father raised me by himself refusing to let anyone else be responsible for me. We enjoyed many happy days together and no one could have loved their father more than I.

When father was home we would spend the evenings by the fire where he would read the Holy Book to me and tell me about the God of our fathers who was the only true God.

My story really starts when the people of Ammon decided to make war against our people, the elders of Gilead came to father to ask him to lead our people in this war with the Ammonites. I was very scared for him because the Ammonite army was so large and our people so few but he assured me we must have faith in God that He would deliver us from them.

Father was a very wise man and only agreed to the elders request if they promised to make him the head of all Gilead if he was victorious, which of course they agreed to do. Father first sent messengers to the Ammonites to seek peace with them but they refused his request so he went throughout all the land enlisting our people to help in the war.

One day we got word that father and the army were coming home because they had won, destroying the cities and army of the Ammonites. Everyone was so happy and excited, especially me. I had missed father so much and had worried about him not coming home. The day finally arrived and everyone in our household made ready to welcome them. We formed a procession with timbrels and drums, put on our finest clothes and waited.

From the back of the procession I saw them coming. Before I knew what I was doing I grabbed Miriam's timbrel and rushed out the door. Dancing and playing the timbrel I ran down the stairs to meet father.

I was so surprised when father rent his clothes and bemoaned his fate. It was then he told me about the vow he had made unto the Lord that if the Lord gave him the victory he would offer the first thing that came from his house to meet him when he came home. I was horrified at what he told me but I knew if you make a vow to God that vow must be kept. I loved father so much I could not allow him to break his vow so I asked him to give me two months to go to the mountains with my companions to grieve for the husband and children I would never know. After two months of lamenting and talking with the Lord I felt at peace and came home so father could keep his vow.

The first year of serving at the temple was very hard and I cried most of the time but then I came to realize what an honor it was to serve God. The priest were all so kind and taught me so much about God. I now consider myself one of the most blessed women in Israel, to know the joy of giving your life to the service of God is truly the greatest blessing a person can have. I have come to understand that I was chosen by God and it was He who worked everything out for my good.

Father became a judge over all of Israel and came to see me once a week at the temple, there were times I missed not having children but the Lord filled my heart with joy and filled my every need.

Bob Goulding © 2006