Jephte rejected by his brethren, is entreated by the ancients of Galaad to return and fight for them against the Ammonites. 12. With whom he first pleadeth the cause of Israel by just reasons, 16. and long prescription. But they persisting obstinate, he (30. inconsiderately vowing) 32. overthroweth them, 34. and sacrificeth his only daughter.Iephte reiected by his brethren, is intreated by the ancientes of Galaad to returne and fight for them against the Ammonites. 12. With whom he first pleadeth the cause of Israel by iust reasons, 16. and long prescription. But they persisting obstinate, he (30. inconsiderately vowing) 32. ouerthroweth them, 34. and sacrificeth his onlie daughter.
There was at that time Jephte the Galaadite a most valiant man and a warrior, the son of a woman that was an harlot, who was born of Galaad.THERE was at that time Iephte the Galaadite a most valiant man and a warrier, the sonne of a woman that was an harlot, who was borne of Galaad.Fuit illo tempore Jephte Galaadites vir fortissimus atque pugnator, filius mulieris meretricis, qui natus est de Galaad.
2And Galaad had a wife of whom he had sons: who after they were grown, cast out Jephte, saying: Thou canst not be heir in the house of our father, because thou art born of another mother.And Galaad had a wife of whom he had sonnes: who after they were growen, cast out Iephte, saying: Thou canst not be heyre in the house of our father, because thou art borne of an other mother.Habuit autem Galaad uxorem, de qua suscepit filios : qui postquam creverant, ejecerunt Jephte, dicentes : Hæres in domo patris nostri esse non poteris, quia de altera matre natus es.
3Whom he fleeing and avoiding, dwelt in the Land of Tob: and there were gathered to him needy men, and thievish, and followed him as their prince.Whom he fleeing and auoyding, dwelt in the Land of Tob: and there were gathered to him needie men, and theeuish, and folowed him as their prince.Quos ille fugiens atque devitans, habitavit in terra Tob : congregatique sunt ad eum viri inopes, et latrocinantes, et quasi principem sequebantur.
4In those days the children of Ammon fought against Israel.In those dayes the children of Ammon fought against Israel.In illis diebus pugnabant filii Ammon contra Israël.
5who pressing sore upon them, the ancients of Galaad went to take Jephte out of the Land of Tob to help them:who pressing sore vpon them, the ancientes of Galaad went to take Iephte out of the Land of Tob to helpe them:Quibus acriter instantibus perrexerunt majores natu de Galaad, ut tollerent in auxilium sui Jephte de terra Tob :
6and they said to him: Come and be our prince, and fight against the children of Ammon.and they saied to him: Come and be our prince, and fight against the children of Ammon.dixeruntque ad eum : Veni et esto princeps noster, et pugna contra filios Ammon.
7To whom he answered: Are not you they that hated me, and cast me out of my father's house, and now are come to me forced by necessity.To whom he answered: Are not you they that hated me, and cast me out of my fathers house, and now are come to me forced by necessitie.Quibus ille respondit : Nonne vos estis, qui odistis me, et ejecistis de domo patris mei ? et nunc venistis ad me necessitate compulsi.
8And the princes of Galaad said to Jephte: For this cause be we now come to thee, that thou go forth with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be the captain of all that dwell in Galaad.And the princes of Galaad said to Iephte: For this cause be we now come to thee, that thou goe forth with vs, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be the captaine of al that dwel in Galaad.Dixeruntque principes Galaad ad Jephte : Ob hanc igitur causam nunc ad te venimus, ut proficiscaris nobiscum, et pugnes contra filios Ammon, sisque dux omnium qui habitant in Galaad.
9Jephte also said to them: If you be come to me sincerely, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon. and if our Lord deliver them into my hands, shall I be your prince?Iephte also said to them: If you be come to me sincerely, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon. and if our Lord deliuer them into my handes, shal I be your prince?Jephte quoque dixit eis : Si vere venistis ad me, ut pugnem pro vobis contra filios Ammon, tradideritque eos Dominus in manus meas, ego ero vester princeps ?
10Who answered him: Our Lord which heareth these things, himself is mediator and witness that we will do as we have promised.Who answered him: Our Lord which heareth these thinges, him selfe is mediatour and witnes that we wil doe as we haue promised.Qui responderunt ei : Dominus, qui hæc audit, ipse mediator ac testis est quod nostra promissa faciemus.
11Jephte therefore went with the princes of Galaad, and all the people made him their prince. And Jephte spake all his words before our Lord in Maspha.Iephte therefore went with the princes of Galaad, and al the people made him their prince. And Iephte spake al his wordes before our Lord in Maspha.Abiit itaque Jephte cum principibus Galaad, fecitque eum omnis populus principem sui. Locutusque est Jephte omnes sermones suos coram Domino in Maspha.
12And he sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, which should say in his person: What is between me and thee, that thou art come against me, to waste my Land?And he sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, which should say in his person: What is betwen me and thee, that thou art come against me, to wast my Land?Et misit nuntios ad regem filiorum Ammon, qui ex persona sua dicerent : Quid mihi et tibi est, quia venisti contra me, ut vastares terram meam ?
13To whom he answered: Because Israel took my land, when he ascended out of Egypt, from the coasts of Arnon unto Jaboc and Jordan: now therefore with peace restore the same to me.To whom he answered: Because Israel tooke my land, when he ascended out of Ægypt, from the coastes of Arnon vnto Iaboc and Iordan: now therfore with peace restore the same to me.Quibus ille respondit : Quia tulit Israël terram meam, quando ascendit de Ægypto, a finibus Arnon usque Jaboc atque Jordanem : nunc ergo cum pace redde mihi eam.
14By whom Jephte again sent word, and commanded them that they should say to the king of Ammon:By whom Iephte againe sent word, and commanded them that they should say to the king of Ammon:Per quos rursum mandavit Jephte, et imperavit eis ut dicerent regi Ammon :
15Thus saith Jephte: Israel did not take the Land of Moab, nor the Land of the children of Ammon:Thus saith Iephte: Israel did not take the Land of Moab, nor the Land of the children of Ammon:Hæc dicit Jephte : Non tulit Israël terram Moab, nec terram filiorum Ammon :
16but when they ascended out of Egypt, he walked through the desert unto the Red sea, and came into Cades,but when they ascended out of Ægypt, he walked through the desert vnto the Readsea, and came into Cades,sed quando de Ægypto conscenderunt, ambulavit per solitudinem usque ad mare Rubrum, et venit in Cades.
17And he sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Suffer me that I may pass through thy land. Who would not condescend to his requests. He sent also to the king of Moab, who also himself scorned, disdained · Vulgate: contempsit to give passage. He abode therefore in Cades,And he sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Suffer me that I may passe through thy land. Who would not condescend to his requestes. He sent also to the king of Moab, who also him selfe contemned to geue passage. He aboad therfore in Cades,Misitque nuntios ad regem Edom, dicens : Dimitte me ut transeam per terram tuam. Qui noluit acquiescere precibus ejus. Misit quoque ad regem Moab, qui et ipse transitum præbere contempsit. Mansit itaque in Cades,
18and skirted, went around, not a navigational instrument · Vulgate: circuivit the Land of Edom at the side, and the land of Moab: and came against the East quarter of the Land of Moab, and camped beyond Arnon: neither would he enter the bounds of Moab: for Arnon is the border of the Land of Moab.and compassed the Land of Edom at the side, and the land of Moab: and came against the East quarter of the Land of Moab, and camped beyond Arnon: neither would he enter the boundes of Moab: for Arnon is the border of the Land of Moab.et circuivit ex latere terram Edom et terram Moab : venitque contra orientalem plagam terræ Moab, et castrametatus est trans Arnon : nec voluit intrare terminos Moab. (Arnon quippe confinium est terræ Moab.)
19Israel therefore sent messengers to Sehon the king of the Amorrhites, who dwelt in Hesebon, and they said to him: Suffer me to pass through thy land unto the river.Israel therfore sent messengers to Sehon the king of the Ammorrheites, who dwelt in Hesebon, and they said to him: Suffer me to passe through thy land vnto the riuer.Misit itaque Israël nuntios ad Sehon regem Amorrhæorum, qui habitabat in Hesebon, et dixerunt ei : Dimitte ut transeam per terram tuam usque ad fluvium.
20Who also himself despising the words of Israel, suffered him not to pass through his borders: but gathering an infinite multitude went forth against him into Jasa, and resisted strongly.Who also him selfe despising the wordes of Israel, suffered him not to passe through his borders: but gathering an infinite multitude went forth against him into Iasa, and resisted strongly.Qui et ipse Israël verba despiciens, non dimisit eum transire per terminos suos : sed infinita multitudine congregata, egressus est contra eum in Jasa, et fortiter resistebat.
21And our Lord delivered him into the hands of Israel with all his army, and he struck (past tense of strike) · Vulgate: percussit him, and possessed all the Land of the Amorrhite the inhabiter of that country,And our Lord deliuered him into the handes of Israel with al his armie, and he stroke him, and possessed al the Land of the Ammorrheite the inhabiter of that countrie,Tradiditque eum Dominus in manus Israël cum omni exercitu suo : qui percussit eum, et possedit omnem terram Amorrhæi habitatoris regionis illius,
22and all the coasts thereof from Arnon unto Jaboc, and from the wilderness unto Jordan.and al the coastes therof from Arnon vnto Iaboc, and from the wildernes vnto Iordan.et universos fines ejus, de Arnon usque Jaboc, et de solitudine usque ad Jordanem.
23Our Lord therefore the God of Israel subverted the Amorrhite, his people of Israel fighting against him, and wilt thou now possess his land?Our Lord therfore the God of Israel subuerted the Amorrheite, his people of Israel fighting against him, and wilt thou now possesse his land?Dominus ergo Deus Israël subvertit Amorrhæum, pugnante contra illum populo suo Israël, et tu nunc vis possidere terram ejus ?
24Are not those things which Chamos thy God possessed, due to thee by right? But the things that our Lord God hath obtained conqueror, shall come to our possession.Are not those thinges which Chamos thy God possessed, dew to thee by right? But the thinges that our Lord God hath obteyned conqueror, shal come to our possession.nonne ea quæ possidet Chamos deus tuus, tibi jure debentur ? quæ autem Dominus Deus noster victor obtinuit, in nostram cedent possessionem :
25unless perhaps thou be better than Balac the son of Sephor the king of Moab: or canst shew, that he quarrelled, contended at law · Vulgate: jurgatus sit against Israel, and fought against him,vnlesse perhaps thou be better then Balac the sonne of Sephor the king of Moab: or canst shew, that he wrangled against Israel, and fought against him,nisi forte melior es Balac filio Sephor rege Moab ; aut docere potes, quod jurgatus sit contra Israël, et pugnaverit contra eum,
26when he dwelt in Hesebon, and in the little towns thereof, and in Aroer, and the towns thereof, or in all the cities near Jordan, for three hundred years. Wherefore have you so long attempted nothing for to claim?when he dwelt in Hesebon, and in the litle townes therof, and in Aroer, and the townes therof, or in al the cities nere Iordan, for three hundred yeares. Wherfore haue you so long attempted nothing for to claime?quando habitavit in Hesebon et viculis ejus, et in Aroër et villis illius, vel in cunctis civitatibus juxta Jordanem, per trecentos annos. Quare tanto tempore nihil super hac repetitione tentastis ?
27Therefore I do not sin against thee, but thou doest evil against me, denouncing me unjust wars. Our Lord be judge the arbiter of this day between Israel, and the children of Ammon.Therfore I doe not sinne against thee, but thou doest euil against me, denouncing me vniust warres. Our Lord be iudge the arbiter of this day betwen Israel, and the children of Ammon.Igitur non ego pecco in te, sed tu contra me male agis, indicens mihi bella non justa. Judicet Dominus arbiter hujus diei inter Israël, et inter filios Ammon.
28And the king of the children of Ammon would not hearken to the words of Jephte, which he sent him by the messengers.And the king of the children of Ammon would not harken to the wordes of Iephte, which he sent him by the messengers.Noluitque acquiescere rex filiorum Ammon verbis Jephte, quæ per nuntios mandaverat.
29Therefore the spirit of our Lord came upon Jephte, and circuiting Galaad and Manasses, Maspha also of Galaad, and thence passing to the children of Ammon,Therfore the spirit of our Lord came vpon Iephte, and circuiting Galaad and Manasses, Maspha also of Galaad, and thence passing to the children of Ammon,Factus est ergo super Jephte spiritus Domini, et circuiens Galaad et Manasse, Maspha quoque Galaad, et inde transiens ad filios Ammon,
30he vowed a vow to our Lord, saying: If thou wilt deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,he vowed a vow to our Lord, saying: If thou wilt deliuer the children of Ammon into my handes,votum vovit Domino, dicens : Si tradideris filios Ammon in manus meas,
31whosoever shall first come forth out of the doors of my house, and shall meet me returning with peace from the children of Ammon, him will I offer an a whole burnt sacrifice, not a catastrophe · Vulgate: holocaustum to our Lord.whosoeuer shal first come forth out of the doores of my house, and shal meete me returning with peace from the children of Ammon, him wil I offer an holocauste to our Lord.quicumque primus fuerit egressus de foribus domus meæ, mihique occurrerit revertenti cum pace a filiis Ammon, eum holocaustum offeram Domino.
32And Jephte passed to the children of Ammon, to fight against them: whom our Lord delivered into his hands.And Iephte passed to the children of Ammon, to fight against them: whom our Lord deliuered into his handes.Transivitque Jephte ad filios Ammon, ut pugnaret contra eos : quos tradidit Dominus in manus ejus.
33and he stroke from Aroer till thou come to Mennith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel, which is set with vineyards, with a very great plague. and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel.and he stroke from Aroer til thou come to Mennith, twentie cities, and as farre as Abel, which is set with vineyardes, with a very great plague. and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children of Israel.Percussitque ab Aroër usque dum venias in Mennith, viginti civitates, et usque ad Abel, quæ est vineis consita, plaga magna nimis : humiliatique sunt filii Ammon a filiis Israël.
34But Jephte returning into Maspha to his house, his only begotten daughter met him with timbrels and dances. for he had not other children.But Iephte returning into Maspha to his house, his onlie begotten daughter mette him with tymbrels and daunces. for he had not other children.Revertente autem Jephte in Maspha domum suam, occurrit ei unigenita filia sua cum tympanis et choris : non enim habebat alios liberos.
35Whom when he saw, he rent his garments, and said: Woe is me my daughter thou hast deceived me, and thyself art deceived: for I have opened my mouth to our Lord, and I can do no other thing.Whom when he saw, he rent his garmentes, and said: Wo is me my daughter thou hast deceiued me, and thy selfe art deceiued: for I haue opened my mouth to our Lord, and I can doe no other thing.Qua visa, scidit vestimenta sua, et ait : Heu me, filia mea ! decepisti me, et ipsa decepta es : aperui enim os meum ad Dominum, et aliud facere non potero.
36To whom she answered: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to our Lord, do unto me whatsoever thou hast promised, the revenge and victory of thine enemies being granted to thee:To whom she answered: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to our Lord, doe vnto me whatsoeuer thou hast promised, the reuenge and victorie of thyne enemies being granted to thee:Cui illa respondit : Pater mi, si aperuisti os tuum ad Dominum, fac mihi quodcumque pollicitus es, concessa tibi ultione atque victoria de hostibus tuis.
37And she said to her father: This only grant me which I desire: Suffer me that two months I may go about the mountains, and bewail my virginity with my fellows.And she said to her father: This onlie graunt me which I desire: Suffer me that two monethes I may goe about the mountaines, and bewayle my virginitie with my felowes.Dixitque ad patrem : Hoc solum mihi præsta quod deprecor : dimitte me ut duobus mensibus circumeam montes, et plangam virginitatem meam cum sodalibus meis.
38To whom he answered: Go. And he dismissed her two months. And when she was gone with her fellows and companions, she mourned her virginity in the mountains.To whom he answered: Goe. And he dismissed her two monethes. And when she was gone with her felowes and companions, she mourned her virginitie in the mountaines.Cui ille respondit : Vade. Et dimisit eam duobus mensibus. Cumque abiisset cum sociis ac sodalibus suis, flebat virginitatem suam in montibus.
39And the two months being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, who knew not man. Thence forth a fashion in Israel, and a custom was kept:And the two monethes being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, who knew not man. Thence forth a fashion in Israel, and a custome was kept:Expletisque duobus mensibus, reversa est ad patrem suum, et fecit ei sicut voverat, quæ ignorabat virum. Exinde mos increbruit in Israël, et consuetudo servata est,
40that after the compass of a year the daughters of Israel assemble together, and mourn the daughter of Jephte the Galaadite four days.that after the compasse of a yeare the daughters of Israel assemble together, and mourne the daughter of Iephte the Galaadite foure dayes.ut post anni circulum conveniant in unum filiæ Israël, et plangant filiam Jephte Galaaditæ diebus quatuor.
Annotations
39Did so to her as he had vowed. Whether Jephte did well or no in sacrificing his daughter, having vowed to offer in sacrifice whosoever (or whatsoever) should first meet him returning with victory, as it happened (he did,) is a great and hard question, (Sixtus Senensis, li. 5. St. Augustine, q. 49. on Judges) and not easily decided, the holy scripture neither approving nor reproving his fact. Nevertheless by conference of other scriptures and discourse of reason, he judgeth it most probable that Jephte offended in vowing without special warrant from God, to sacrifice, and that indiscreetly: which by the law was not lawful, yet feared not in performing his vow. But not so much in performing it, rather he pacified God thereby, whose will it seemed to be, that for punishment of his sin he should sacrifice his daughter. For where it might seem that he ought rather (for his natural love to his child) to have broken his vow, then for the violation of the sacrifice to have slain her: it is answered, that it seemed more pleasing to God to command Abraham to immolate his son Isaac, though when it came to execution, he forbade the same, appointing another host in place of the child, which here he did not. Neither was it injurious to the daughter, seeing she, as all mankind, must once die when God appointeth. Yea further she offered herself freely (which seemed to be by God's instinct) willing her father to do to her whatsoever he had promised to God. This is the sum of St. Augustine's large discourse. Likewise St. Ambrose (li. 3. de officiis. c. 12.) supposeth assuredly that this prince Jephte offended in vowing indiscreetly, for so it also reproved him, when his daughter did meet him: yet that with good peace and dread he performed to his own bitter pain that which he had promised, instituting an anniversary lamentation of the sacrifice. Origen also (in apolog.) approveth their opinion that say: It was God's ordinance Jephte should see the error of his rash vow, by the death of his daughter, for a document to others. The very same teacheth St. Chrysostom (ho. 14. ad pop. Antioch.) that God would have this error to be thus punished, that others might be warned from vowing the like. St. Gregory Nazianzen (orat. de machabæis) preferring the martyrdom of the four brothers and their mother, before the sacrifice of Jephte, yet condemneth not this, but recounteth it amongst other commendable acts. Theodoret (q. 19. on Judges) and all the aforesaid fathers do highly commend the daughter's promptness in offering herself to be sacrificed, which either much insinuated her father's fault, or wholly justified his fact. Thus the ancient fathers moderate their censures. Yea new lifters of late English bibles without scruple say, that by his rash vow and performing it he committed murder, and again, that he was overcome with blind zeal, not consturning whether the vow was lawful or no.