* did with.
That Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter, but consecrated
her to the service of God in the tabernacle, in a state of
celibacy, will we imagine be evident from the following
consideration:--1. Human sacrifices were ever an abomination
to Jehovah, of which Jephthah could not be ignorant; and
consequently he would neither have made such a vow, nor
carried it into execution. 2. We are expressly told (ver.
29) that Jephthah was under the influence of the Spirit of
God, which would effectually prevent him from embruing his
hands in the blood of his own child. 3. He had it in his
power to redeem his daughter, (Le 27:4;) and surely his only
child must have been of more value than thirty shekles. 4.
Besides, who was to perform the horrid rite? Not Jephthah
himself, who was no priest, and in whom it would have been
most unnatural and inhuman; and the priests would certainly
have dissuaded him from it. 5. The sacred historian informs
us, that she bewailed her virginity, that she knew no man, and
that the Israelitish women went yearly to comfort or lament
with her.
31 Le 27:28,29 De 12:31 Isa 66:3
* to his vow.
1Sa 1:11,22,24,28 2:18
* custom. or, ordinance.
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