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Matthew Henry

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 11:37

And she said unto her father, let this thing be done for me ,.... She had but one favour to ask of him, which she thought might be granted, without any breach of the vow: let me alone two months she desired such a space of time might be allowed her before the vow took place; and the rather she might be encouraged to expect that her request would be granted, since no time was fixed by the vow for the accomplishment of it, and since the time she asked was not very long, and the end to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:38

And he said, go ,.... He granted her request at once: and he sent her away for two months ; as she desired: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains ; for the space of two months: the Jewish commentators make mention of an allegorical exposition of a writer F9 Tanchuma. of theirs, who by mountains understands the sanhedrim, to whom she proposed to go, who perhaps might find a way for the loosing of the vow; but it is a question whether... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:39

And it came to pass at the end of two months she returned to her father ,.... For the request she made was not a pretence to make her escape out of his hands; but having done what she proposed to do, and the time fixed for it being come, she returned to her father's house, and delivered herself to him: who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed : but what he did is a question, and which is not easily resolved; some think he really sacrificed her, through a mistaken sense of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:40

That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite ,.... Either the death of her, as some, or her virginity, as others; though the word F16 לתנות "ad alloquendum", Pagninus, Montanus; "ut dissererent", Tigurine version; "ut colloquerentur", Vatablus; "ad confabulandum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. used may signify to talk and discourse with her, to hold a confabulation with her, and comfort her, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it; to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:37

I and my fellows - Whether she meant the young women of her own acquaintance, or those who had been consecrated to God in the same way, though on different accounts, is not quite clear; but it is likely she means her own companions: and her going up and down upon the mountains may signify no more than her paying each of them a visit at their own houses, previously to her being shut up at the tabernacle; and this visiting of each at their own home might require the space of two months.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:39

And she knew no man - She continued a virgin all the days of her life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:40

To lament the daughter of Jephthah - I am satisfied that this is not a correct translation of the original יפתח לבת לתנות lethannoth lebath yiphtach . Houbigant translates the whole verse thus: Sed iste mos apud Israel invaluit, ut virgines Israel, temporibus diversis, irent ad filiam Jepthe-ut eam quotannis dies quatuor consolarentur ; "But this custom prevailed in Israel that the virgins of Israel went at different times, four days in the year, to the daughter of Jephthah,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:37

Bewail my virginity - To become a wife and a mother was the end of existence to an Israelite maiden. The premature death of Jephthah’s daughter was about to frustrate this end. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:40

There is no allusion extant elsewhere to this annual lamentation of the untimely fate of Jephthah’s daughter. But the poetical turn of the narrative suggests that it may be taken from some ancient song (compare the marginal note 4). read more

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