Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Vadim Cherny" <VadimCherny AT mail.ru>]

The whole point of the story is that Jephtah took a foolish vow. This is why
his daughter was whailed. He did not mean to sacrifice his daughter. A
fool's example is no argument. Besides, note how carefully the author avoids
saying that she died. One possible implication is that she was consecrated:
why stress her virginity otherwise?

Vadim Cherny


> Not even Judges 11:29 - Jephthah's Vow?
> >
> > There are no human sacrifices in Judaism. Point.
> > Execution of guilty person is not sacrifice, but an act
> of purifying the
> > community.
> >
> > Vadim Cherny
> >
> >
> > > I think your points are well taken.  2 Sam 21 is a
> story of
> > > human sacrafice.  Yahweh causes a famine in response to
> > > Saul's crime. The famine causes widespread suffering.
> The
> > > death of Saul's sons and grandsons satisfies God as the
> > > Saul's crime is atoned for, and the famine ends.  Since
> > > Saul is dead, he cannot atone for his own sins, so it
> be
> > > dealt with (or visited) by God upon Saul's sons and
> > > grandsons.  David has correctly understood the issues
> and
> > > dealth with them in a manner that effects the end of
> the
> > > famine.
> > >
> > > This is the only point I was trying to make - in the
> OT,
> > > there are cases of later generations being dealt with
> by
> > > God in negative fashion to atone for the sins of
> earlier
> > > generations.  Most people would describe this as
> > > punishment.  I dare if I were killed and impaled on a
> pole
> > > for an entire barley season to atone for a sin my
> > > grandfather committed, I would describe it as
> punishment.
> > >
> > > Jack Tladatsi
> > >
> >
> >
>
> Jack Tladatsi
>
>