Judges 11:34, Judges 11:36 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 11:29-40

We have here Jephthah triumphing in a glorious victory, but, as an alloy to his joy, troubled and distressed by an unadvised vow. I. Jephthah's victory was clear, and shines very brightly, both to his honour and to the honour of God, his in pleading and God's in owning a righteous cause. 1. God gave him an excellent spirit, and he improved it bravely, Jdg. 11:29. When it appeared by the people's unanimous choice of him for their leader that he had so clear a call to engage, and by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:34

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house ,.... Where he had uttered his words before the Lord, which had passed between him and the elders of Gilead, and from whence he set out to fight the children of Ammon, and whither he returned after he had got the victory over them, Judges 11:11 and where it seems he had a house, and his family dwelt; for upon his being fetched from the land of Tab, he brought what family he had with him, and settled them at Mizpeh, while he went on the expedition... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:34

With timbrels and with dances - From this instance we find it was an ancient custom for women to go out to meet returning conquerors with musical instruments, songs, and dances; and that it was continued afterwards is evident from the instance given 1 Samuel 18:6 , where David was met, on his return from the defeat of Goliath and the Philistines, by women from all the cities of Israel, with singing and dancing, and various instruments of music. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:34

His daughter came out to meet him - The precise phrase of his vow Judges 11:31. She was his “only child,” a term of special endearment (see Jeremiah 6:26; Zechariah 12:10). The same word is used of Isaac Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:12, Genesis 22:16. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 11:34-35

Judges 11:34-35. Behold his daughter came out to meet him In concert with other virgins, as the manner was. Alas, my daughter! thou art one of them that trouble me Before this I was troubled by my brethren, and since by the Ammonites, and now most of all, though but occasionally, by thee. I have opened my mouth That is, I have vowed. I cannot go back That is, not retract my vow; I am indispensably obliged to perform it. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 11:1-40

Jephthah and five other judges (10:1-12:15)Little is known of the political or military activities of the judges Tola and Jair. They both exercised power for lengthy periods, and Jair’s family certainly enjoyed considerable power and prestige among the East Jordan tribes (10:1-5).Again the Israelites turned away from Yahweh and worshipped false gods, and again they were punished. The Ammonites conquered the eastern tribes, crossed Jordan, and seized large portions of Israelite territory in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 11:34

timbrels = drums. See note on Exodus 15:20 . beside her. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 . The fact is stated in two ways, in order to emphasize it. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 11:34

JEPHTHAH FULFILLS HIS VOW"And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his home; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her, he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back. And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:34

34-40. 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 ( :-), 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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 11:34-40

The fate of Jephthah’s daughter 11:34-40Judges 11:1-33 record Jephthah’s success. The rest of his story (Judges 11:34 to Judges 12:7) relates his failure. The writer likewise recorded Gideon’s success first (Judges 6:1 to Judges 8:23) and then his failure (Judges 8:24 to Judges 9:57). We shall find a similar pattern when we come to Samson’s story. As with Gideon and Samson, Jephthah’s failure grew out of his success. In all three of these major judges’ cases, failure resulted from ignorance of... read more