V. 15, 16. The foregoing message was sent by lamity, and absolutely refuse to help them. (Notes, a prophet, or was delivered by the high priest, 2 Kings 3:13,14. Prov. 1:24-31.) This will be when the congregation were assembled before the dreadful condition of the wicked in another the Lord: but the people with one consent sub-world; but here mercy can never be sought in mitted themselves to the justice of God; (Note, Rom. 10:1-4.) yet hoping in his mercy, they left themselves in his hands, craved deliverance from their enemies, and were earnest and decided in reformation. This return to the worship of God seems to have been permanent: for we do not find that the people relapsed into idolatry, under the subsequent judges. And compassion as effectually moved the Lord to relieve them, as a man is urged to assist a wretched fellow-creature, when he cannot otherwise help sharing his distress; or as a father is disposed to assist his suffering child. (Marg. Ref. g. Note, Jer. 31:18-20.) vain: yet, for the deeper humiliation of those who are but superficially convinced, and to quicken those who are not duly in earnest; the Lord often seems to "shut up his loving kindness in his displeasure," he upbraids them with their sins, pursues them with his awful threatenings, and almost brings them to conclude that their case is hopeless. He will, however, keep them from desperation: and when their prayers are rendered more fervent, their confessions more ingenuous and humiliating, their self-examination more diligent, their submission to his justice and dependence on his mercy more entire, and their forsaking of sin more unreserved; it may be certainly concluded, that comfort and deliverance are at hand. Let then the trembling sinner, and the almost despairing backslider, cease from inquir V. 17, 18. Some think, that the penitent Israelites recovering their courage, the Ammonites had retired beyond Jordan to Gilead: but it is more probable that they were collected in this place, in order to a new invasion of the countrying west of Jordan. The inhabitants, however, of the country east of Jordan convened at Mizpeh, with a determination to oppose them.-God did not as usual expressly appoint them a deliverer: but he secretly directed, and openly confirmed, their choice of one for themselves.-Some indeed think that they consulted the Lord, and that he pointed out Jephthah. (1 Sam. 12:11. Notes, 11: 1-11.) about God's secret purposes, or thinking to extract hope from former experiences: let them not sink into despondency, or yield to heartless indolence: let them cast themselves upon the mercy of God our Savior; patiently submit to his severest chastisement; humble themselves more and more under his hand; seek deliverance on any terms from the dominion of sin, and from the powers of darkness; separate themselves as much as possible from all occasions of transgression; use all the means of grace diligently, and wait the Lord's time; and they shall certainly at length rejoice in his mercy. Finally, let all those who think they stand, take heed lest they fall;" and may the Lord help us to "cleave to him with purpose of heart." NOTES. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. The removal of hardened sinners, by a righteous God, often makes way for reformation and public tranquillity, and proves a great mercy to those who survive.-Man's carnal heart is prone to prefer the bondage of sin and Satan to the service of God: but present indulgence will certainCHAP. XI. V. 1, 2. Jephthah seems evidently ly produce future misery; for every expectation and advantage from sin, the world, and the friend- to have been the son of "a harlot;" not of a conship of wicked men, must ensure a distressing cubine, or of a secondary wife; of "a strange wodisappointment.-God is able to multiply men's man," either of an alien of bad character, or an punishments, according to the number of their in- Israelitess whose infamous conduct procured her iquities and idols: (Note, Lev. 26:24.) but there that title. (Note, Prov. 2:16.) So that his birth is hope, when, under temporal afflictions, sinners seemed, according to the law, to exclude him cry unto the Lord for help, and lament their un-"from the congregation of the LORD." (Note, godliness, as well as more scandalous transgressions. Yet the Lord might justly leave those who have forsaken him to their wretched choice; he might upbraid them with former mercies and their base returns; he might send them to their beloved idols and lusts; he might mock at their ca Deut. 23:2.)-Gilead, the father of Jephthah, was probably a descendant of Gilead, the grandson of Manasseh.-Jephthah had no right to share with his brethren in the inheritance; but he had not deserved to be turned out destitute, as if he had been a vagabond or a malefactor. [723 there were gathered fvain men to Jeph-|| Jephthah, thah, and went out with him. 4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made. war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon & made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah| out of the land of Tob: 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon: i 7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? n The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him Phead and captain over them: and Jephthah & uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh. t r 12 ¶ And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land? 13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, " Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto from Arnon even unto k * Jabbok, and Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to unto Jordan; now therefore restore those thee now, that thou mayest go with us, lands again peaceably. and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. V. 3. A number of men of broken fortunes and unsettled dispositions joined themselves to Jephthah. It does not appear, however, that they attempted any depredations, or violence against their own countrymen, but rather that they made reprisals on those nations which oppressed them. In this course of life they learned hardiness, boldness, and military skill; and thus Jephthah acquired that reputation which made way for his advancement, as commander in the war against Ammon.-It is not improbable, that he also reformed his followers, and gave them some instructions in religion, as David, in similar circumstances, evidently did in respect of his adherents. (Notes, 1 Sam. 22:1,2. 24:4-7. 25:7,8.| 30:22-25.) 14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon, 2 15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon: V. 7, 8. Either these elders of Gilead were Jephthah's brethren: or they had concurred with them in driving him away, instead of defending him from their injustice: for he ascribed the ill usage which he had met with to their hatred; and they did not deny the charge, though urged as a reason why they ought not to apply to him in their distress. As he was of an enterprising spirit, they had perhaps suspected him of ambitious designs, like those of Abimelech. (9:) They now, however, felt their need of his talents; and pleaded that they desired to appoint him their captain, that they might make him amends for their former injustice. (Note, 10:17,18.) V. 9-11. Jephthah had no great reason to confide in the elders of Gilead: and, as he supposV. 4-6. Jephthah, at the head of his compa-ed that if the Lord gave him the victory over ny, had probably before this begun to fight against the Ammonites, by incursions and reprisals: and the elders of Gilead knowing him to be a man of approved courage and conduct, sent to offer him the chief command of their army. Perhaps they forgot the law before mentioned; or they supposed that in this emergency it might be dispensed with. Some indeed think, that they were directed by a divine admonition to send for him: at least the Lord confirmed their choice; perhaps in order that those, who had rendered themselves vile by sin, might be rescued from their enemies by one who lay under a disgraceful stigma; and that he might be humbled by recollecting, that he was marked in the divine law with the same brand, as the Ammonites whom he conquered. (Notes, Deut. 23:2-5.) Ammon, this would entitle him to the authority of judge over the tribes east of Jordan; he requir ed the elders to engage by a solemn oath, that they would submit to him, before he would accompany them to Mizpeh. And when he came thither, being about to enter on this important service, he "uttered all his words," or laid all hi transactions, "before the LORD;" seeking his di rection, assistance, and blessing very particularly in fervent prayer, as one who would go forth in faith, and expected all his success from God. (Note, Heb. 11:32-34.)-Some think, that the high priest, with the sacred breast-plate, was come on this occasion to Mizpeh; and that Jephthah inquired of him.-Mizpeh here mentioned was east of Jordan, and was called Mizpeh of Gilead, (29) in contradistinction from another 19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place. 20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Isracl, and they smote them: 'so Israel possessed all the land of the Am place of the same name, which lay west of Jordan. (Josh. 15:38.) There was also another city, if not two, called Mizpeh, which were of less note. orites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan. 23 So now, the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it? 24 Wilt not thou possess that which m Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess. 25 And now, art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, 26 While Israel dwelt in P Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time? t 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD, the Judge, be Judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon. 28 Howbeit," the king of the children m Num. 21:29. 1 Kings 11:7. n Deut. 9:4,5. 18:12. Josh. 3:10. o Num. 22:2. Deut. 23:3,4. p Num. 21:25-30. Deut. 2:24. 3,8. Josh. 11:18. 23:1. s Gen. 18:25. 1 Sam. 2:10. Job 9:15. 23:7. Ps. 7:11. 50:6. 82:8. 94:2. 98:9. Ec. 11:9. 12:14. John 5:22,23. Rom. 14:10-12. 2 Cor. 5:10. 2 Tim. 4:8. Heb. 12:23. t Gen. 16:5. 31:53. 1 Sam. 24. 12,15. Ps. 7:8,9. 2 Cor. 11:11 r 3:11,30. 5:31. 8:28. 9:22. 10:2, u 2 Kings 14:11. Prov. 16:18. pose the injustice and unreasonableness of his conduct. V. 25, 26. Balak feared Israel and plotted their destruction; but he had never proceeded to V. 12-23. Jephthah, now constituted ruler assault them, nor did they ever give him any in Israel, sent to treat of peace with the Ammon- reason. (Notes, Num. 22:-25:)—Jephthah here ites before he declared war against them. This argues that it was absurd, at the end of three accorded to the law of Moses, and was done per- hundred years, to revive a claim, which had been haps by divine direction. (Notes, Deut. 20:10— so long suffered to lie dormant!-Solomon began 18.) The whole of these messages shew that to build the temple four hundred and eighty years Jephthah had well studied the historical part of after Israel left Egypt: (1 Kings 6:1.) forty years the books of Moses. His arguments likewise were spent in the wilderness before the conquest were very clear, and his demands reasonable; for of Sihon and Og: and Jephthah here speaks of he only required, that the Ammonites should three hundred years having elapsed to that time. cease to harass a people, who neither had injured So that (if he spake with exactness, and not of a them, nor intended to do so. (Notes, Num. 20: round number,) these events happened one hun14-21. 21:21-35. Deut. 2: 3:1-11.)-It is also dred and forty years before the building of Soloevident that the books of Numbers and Deuter-mon's temple. Several computations have been onomy were then extant in their present form.Some of the country, at that time possessed by Israel, had once belonged to Ammon: but the Amorites had taken it from them; afterwards the Israelites had wrested it from the Amorites; and God, who gave the victory, expressly assigned to them the country of the vanquished for their inheritance. made of the years under Joshua, the different judges, and king Saul, to accord with this general intimation: but none are very satisfactory. Obscurity rests on this part of sacred chronolo gy, and probably will continue to do so. (Note, 3: 11.) V. 27. In case the king of Ammon would not desist from his demand, the war would become V. 24. This did not imply, either that Che- just and necessary: and therefore Jephthah solmosh was in reality a God, or that victory al-emnly appealed to JEHOVAH, "the Judge," to ways gives a right to the possessions of the van- judge between Israel and the Ammonites, and to quished: but Jephthah argued with the king of decide in favor of those who had the more rightAmmon on his own principles, the better to ex- 11 eous cause. Every declaration of war implies of Ammon hearkened not unto the words beside her he had neither son nor of Jephthah which he sent him. daughter. 35 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 the LORD, and I cannot go back. 36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. m 38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to t lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, P four days in a year. Or, he had not of his own either. Heb. of himself. 34 ¶ And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter** came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child: x 3:10. 6:34. 13:25. Nom. 11:25. | † Or, or I will, &c. Lev. 27:11, y 10:17. z Gen. 28:20. Num. 30:2,&c. 1 Sam. 1:11. Ec. 5:1,2. * Heb. that which cometh forth, which shall come forth. a Lev. 27:2,3,28,29. 1 Sam. 1: 11,28. 14:24,44. 12. Deut. 23:18. Is. 66:3. b 1:4. 2:18. 3:10. c Deut. 2:36. d Ez. 27:17. Or, Abel. e 11. 10:17. f 5:1,&c. Ex. 15:A. 1 Sam. 13:k g Zech. 12:10. Luke 7:12. 8:42. h Gen. 37:29,30,34,35. 42:36- 19:30. Acts 20:24. 21:13. Rom. 16:4. Phil. 2:30. || Heb. go and go down. m 1 Sam. 1:6. Luke 1:25. n 31. Lev. 27:28,29. Deut. 12: o 1 Sam. 1:11,28. 2:18. i Lev. 27:28,29. Num. 30:2-5. such an appeal; but it is seldom made upon such and in what sense could it have been the Lord's? good grounds, and in the same spirit of humble but it was most probable that one of his family faith. (Notes, 2 Sam. 10:8-14. 2 Chr. 13:4-22.) would, which indeed he seems to have expected. V. 29. The Lord, by the communication of Not being so well acquainted with the preceptive his Spirit, both confirmed the people's choice of part of the books of Moses, as with the historical, Jephthah, and fitted him for the service to which he confounded the several laws concerning sacrihe was called. (Note, 9-11)-Being thus stir-fices and vows; and especially, he seems to have red up, he went through the adjacent countries to levy soldiers, and then marched boldly to attack the enemy. had some confused idea of the law and custom of devoting persons or things to utter destruction. (Note, Lev. 27:28,29.) This being especially inV. 30, 31. Perhaps Jephthah's army was small, tended of the enemies of God, and things abused and his or their courage ready to fail in the pros- to idolatry, he erroneously applied to innocent pect of imminent danger; and therefore he joined persons and Israelites, over whose lives he could a solemn vow to his earnest prayers: but the vow have no power, either in his public or private itself was evidently rash and improper. (Marg. character: and he supposed that the execution of Ref. z.-Notes, Gen. 28:20-22. Num. 30:2.) this vow required, that the person devoted should God himself had prescribed the animals which be offered for a burnt-offering. His judgment were to be offered in the different kinds of sacriwas not only erroneous through ignorance of the fices: and there were likewise different kinds of divine law, but it was also perverted by a too Vows, and particular regulations of them. (Notes, great familiarity with the customs of the surLev. 1:1,2. 27:) It was therefore exceedingly ab- rounding idolaters; who on such emergencies fresurd to vow, that whatsoever "came forth of the quently vowed and offered human sacrifices, supdoors of his house, should be the LORD's, and be posing them acceptable to the Deity, in proporoffered for a burnt-offering." The marginal read-tion to the pain which they occasioned to the of ing, or I will offer it," &c. on which much stress has been laid by several expositors, is by no means a natural construction. A dog or some other unclean animal, might first have met him; 726] ferers. (Notes, 2 Kings 3:27. Mic. 6:6-8.) V. 34-40. The whole conduct of Jephthah's daughter shews, that she was an amiable, dutiful, and pious young woman, according to the in their protection, counsel, and prayers, in seasons of terror and distress: (Notes, Is. 60:10-14. Rev. 3:8,9.) and in all ages they, whom God has most honored and employed, have previously been treated with contempt and injustice, even by those to whom they afterwards were most useful. None ought therefore to be discouraged or surprised by it; as they are only dealt with in the same manner as Joseph, Moses, Jephthab, and David; nay, in this especially, are made like to the Son of God, "who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself," before he was "exalted to be a Prince and Savior." Indeed, the Lord is continually thus treated: men neglect his service, despise his authority, and rob him of his glory; and yet in their distress they apply unto him for deliverance. But, as he forgives the penitent sinner without upbraiding him, so ought his people to behave to their enemies. It should be noted, however, that the Savior himself will save none, who do not consent that he should "reign over them:" and his disciples, after his example, should seek to reform them, whose temporal distresses they relieve.-Those undertakings are likely to prosper, and those public situations to be well filled, respecting which the Lord is consulted and trusted in simple faith, prayer, and conscientious obedience.-They, who possess the greatest genuine courage, will be the most disposed for peace, and to concede and yield the most for the sake of it; and when rapacity and ambition, concealed under the mask of equity, (for though few men love justice, most would be thought to do so,) render such endeavors unavailing; having shewn that we would, "if possible, live peaceably with all men," we may safely leave the matter with the Lord; who, as Judge of all the earth, will award to those that delight in contention, public or private, a recompense meet for their turbu lent dispositions and evil deeds. structions afforded her: and the tokens of extreme distress, which Jephthah shewed, confirm the interpretation before intimated. (Note, 30, 31.) If he had understood the divine law, he would have known that his rash vow bound him to nothing but deep repentance; unless he had accompanied thank-offerings at Shiloh, with a sin-offering on this account.-But he deemed himself irrevocably engaged; (Notes, Lev. 27:28, 29. Num. 30:2.) and, after two months, "he did with her according to his vow:" that is, as it appears evident to me, he offered her for a burntoffering; perhaps induced by a misinterpretation of the command given to Abraham concerning his son Isaac. (Notes, Gen. 22:2-10.) In this he acted conscientiously: but his conscience was erroneous; and his error arose from ignorance of the divine law, and too much acquaintance with heathen customs. Otherwise he would not have placed his amiable daughter, who came to congratulate his victory, with joyful songs of praise, among the devoted enemies of God; much less would he have offered so detestable a sacrifice, which was most expressly forbidden, as "an abomination to the LORD which he hated." (Deut. 12:31. Note, Lev. 20:2—5.)—When Saul rashly brought his excellent son Jonathan under the curse of utter destruction, the people very properly rescued him; for the crime was Saul's, not Jonathan's. (Notes, 1 Sam. 14:24-46.)-Many learned men indeed have endeavored to shew that Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter, but that he shut her up in perpetual solitude and virginity: and they urge in favor of that opinion, that "she bewailed her virginity," not her death; and that "she knew no man:" and they suppose that the daughters of Israel went to condole with her four times in the year, and not to lament her death. But it is not at all likely that it should become a custoin, not only for her acquaintance, or the daughters of Gilead, but for those of all Israel, thus to flock to her four days in the year on such As far as we are acquainted with the word of an account: and we never read of law or custom, God, we shall find a clear light shine upon our either in the Old Testament or the New, for any paths, discovering to us the safe and happy way: person to be thus devoted to the Lord by perpet- but, even when we aot uprightly, if ignorant of ual celibacy, or the least hint of the kind. On the Scriptures, we shall fall into lamentable misthe contrary, marriage and having children were takes, to the dishonor of God and the great disso honorable in all, that to die unmarried or child- comfort of our souls. This should excite us to a less was deemed disgraceful, as well as a misfor- diligent study of the whole word of God, that we tune; which seems to have occasioned the expres- may be "completed in the knowledge of his will:" sions above-mentioned. (Luke 1:25.) So pious a and it should remind ministers to be exact, copiperson, supposing her death to be for the gloryous, and frequent, in discussing practical subof God, and the benefit of Israel, would not be- jects; that those who are disposed to perform their wail on that account: but, according to the senti- duty, may not be left to sin through ignorance or ment of all Israelitish women, she must naturally mistake, as very many professors of evangelical lament that she died unmarried and childless, es-truth continually do.-How chequered are the pecially as her father had no other child, nor any prospect of posterity. Whereas, had she been shut up in perpetual solitude, as a single example of that kind in the whole Scripture, and contrary to the whole tenor of it, she would not have needed to request two months to bewail her virginity, for she would have had all her remaining life to do it in. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-28. As the sins of parents so often occasion disgrace and hardship to their children, this should unite with higher motives to induce men to govern their passions according to the law of God. -Activity, capacity, prudence, and piety, will often render a man superior to the disadvantages of his birth; and the hardships of his youth prepare him for the services of future life. We should not despise the meanest person; for we know not how soon we may have reason to supplicate his assistance. It is especially dangerous to injure the servants of God; and many who do so in prosperity, are glad to seek the benefit of V. 29-40. scenes of this mortal life! Sorrow treads upon the heels of mirth; and our choicest comforts, often through our own unwatchfulness, become the occasions of our severest trials: but we need the less wonder at this, when we observe how defective the best characters are, and how the best actions are often connected with such, as are utterly unwarrantable.-A cheerful mind, disposed to be grateful to God, and to endure any thing for his honor and out of love to his people, with a ready submission to parental authority, are such beautiful blossoms in young persons, and promise such fruit in riper years, that we must regret to see them blasted by premature death; and lament that those, who have so well performed the inferior duties, are not spared to be useful in the more important relations of the married state. But, though their death is a loss to society, they are themselves no losers: for the preparation for a useful life will render death also comfortable, in whatever way they may be called hence.-In lawful vows, when we have "opened our mouth unto the LORD, we may not go back;" and on that account we should be very considerate in |