Comments on: June 21, 2010: When we fail to speak up… http://www.wehopres.org/june-21-2010-when-we-fail-to-speak-up%e2%80%a6 All Are Welcome Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:05:36 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: David http://www.wehopres.org/june-21-2010-when-we-fail-to-speak-up%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1#comment-2874 David Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:15:35 +0000 http://www.wehopres.org/?p=1134#comment-2874 I went back and read this chapter in Judges. To me 11:3 gives this some context "... A rabble had joined company with him, and went out with him on raids." To me implies two things: a) He had his own fighting force. b) He's involved in some sort of violent crimes (probably robbing travelers). The clan of Gilead not wanting to place their faith in God, instead turned to a strong man to place in charge of them (11:6), which is ultimately the sin that all of Israel later commits by choosing to have a king over them. So to me the story in verses 30-39, while tragic serve to illustrate that Jephthah is a man of violence who does not respect life. Also the vow that he makes in v30 assumes that it will be a member of his household, and we are to assume this vow is a rejection of the Spirit of God in v29. I went back and read this chapter in Judges. To me 11:3 gives this some context “… A rabble had joined company with him, and went out with him on raids.”
To me implies two things:
a) He had his own fighting force.
b) He’s involved in some sort of violent crimes (probably robbing travelers).

The clan of Gilead not wanting to place their faith in God, instead turned to a strong man to place in charge of them (11:6), which is ultimately the sin that all of Israel later commits by choosing to have a king over them.

So to me the story in verses 30-39, while tragic serve to illustrate that Jephthah is a man of violence who does not respect life. Also the vow that he makes in v30 assumes that it will be a member of his household, and we are to assume this vow is a rejection of the Spirit of God in v29.

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