Biblical Hebrew Forum

["nick lunn" <nick_lunn AT wycliffe.org>]

     Dear All,
     
     If anyone is interested in reading a dated, yet excellent, exegesis of 
     the account of Jephthah's daughter, I would strongly recommended that 
     by Jonathan Edwards (claimed by some to be America's greatest 
     theologian ever). It is found in volume 2 of the standard edition of 
     his works. It is a shame that it is not better known. He argues 
     strongly, and convincingly in my opinion, that Jephthah did not 
     literally offer the life of his daughter. Edwards takes the view that 
     according to the Hebrew law, a person could be redeemed by means of an 
     animal substitute. This was in fact the case with the 'firstborn of 
     Israel'. Human sacrifice was an abomination to God. If Saul was 
     rebuked for a less serious sacrificial irregularity and Uzziah too for 
     offering incense, would not we hear a similar rebuke for Jephthah if 
     he had literally sacrificed his daughter? He certainly would not have 
     found a place amongst the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11.
     
     Anyway, I will leave the rest for those who are interested.
     
     Nick Lunn
     Wycliffe Bible Translators
     Kenya