Judges 11:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Scriptures do not seem to render judgment on the promise itself or its realization, similar to the account of Abraham, who was instructed by the Lord to sacrifice his son and obeyed the voice of God. Instead, the texts of Scripture recount historical events without imposing their own assessments, as illustrated by Judah, the son of Jacob, who, in ignorance, engaged in relations with his daughter-in-law Tamar, mistakenly believing her to be a prostitute. The Holy Scriptures do not explicitly condemn or commend actions but depict them as they are, enabling readers to reflect on and evaluate them through the lens of virtue and divine law.

The father quickly recalled his commitment, and upon reflecting on it, he started to feel remorse for having pledged to carry out the obligations of his vow.

Indeed, what follows highlights Jephthah's shortcomings. After making a vow to offer as a sacrifice whatever first greeted him, upon seeing his daughter, he rent his clothes, wept deeply, and allowed her to mourn before he fulfilled his promise with her.