Yeeftakh (Jephthah), whose name means “he opens,” is one of the most tragic of the judges of ancient Israel. His rash vow to God that ended being fulfilled by his daughter as a sacrifice disturbs many people. However, a close look at the account suggests quite a different outcome.
Author: Daniel
Many think Purim, the festival connected to the Bible book of Esther, is a minor Jewish holiday, but it speaks even more loudly to believers in Messiah Yeshua. It’s about the past and our future.
This passage looks at three leaders of ancient Israel: Tola, Yair (Jair), and Yeftah (Jephthah). After 45 years under the guidance of the first two, Israel then slid into devotion to the gods of surrounding nations. Israel finally realized the oppression under Philistia and Ammon was to turn them back to the LORD, Who led the nation out of bondage in Egypt.
Moshe (Moses) predicts Israel’s idolatry and apostasy. He also writes a song to remind Israel of what the LORD has done for them, what they did against Him, what happened to them as a result and how the LORD will reconcile them back to Himself.
The Law of the LORD, or Torah, is as difficult to follow and indecipherable as we make it — simply, choose the lifestyle that leads to life. The LORD over time aligns our emotions, desires and reason in that direction.
Categories
Judges 9
The account of Gideon’s son Avimelech (Abimelech) in this chapter is a good illustration of what the oft-misinterpreted Torah phrase, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth,” really means. What Avimelech sowed in grasping for power came down on him like a millstone.
Daniel Agee shows how the initially unassuming judge, or champion leader, of Israel called Gideon completed the victory God gave his 300 men over the 180,000-strong Midianite invading army. However, the lure of idolatry was so strong in the land of Israel that even Gideon’s best intentions to remain humble and pure before God unraveled starting with the attempted creation of a monarchy by his son.