Judges 11:31

whatsoever. This is masculine. But the issuer from his house was feminine. Thus his rash vow was impossible of fulfillment, and was to be repented of.

and = or. The Hebrew ( Vav ) is a connective Particle, and is rendered in many different ways. It is also used as a disjunctive, and is often rendered "or" (or, with a negative, "nor"). See Genesis 41:44 .Exodus 20:4 ; Exodus 21:15 , Exodus 21:17 , Exodus 21:18 . Numbers 16:14 ; Numbers 22:26 (Revised Version "nor"); Deuteronomy 3:24 . 2 Samuel 3:29 . 1Ki 18:10 , 1 Kings 18:27 . With a negative = "nor", "neither". Exodus 20:17 . Deu 7:25 . 2 Samuel 1:21 .Psalms 26:9 . Proverbs 6:4 ; Proverbs 30:3 , &c. See note on "but", 1 Kings 2:9 . Here, Jephthah's vow consisted of two parts: (1) He would either dedicate it to Jehovah (according to Leviticus 27:0 ); or (2) if unsuitable for this, he would offer it as a burnt offering. He performed his vow, and dedicated his daughter to Jehovah by a perpetual virginity (verses: Judges 11:36 , Judges 11:39 , Judges 11:40 ); but he did not offer her as a burnt offering, because it was forbidden by Jehovah, and could not be accepted by Him (Judges 18:21 ; Judges 20:2-5 ).