Jephtha יפתח -- one of the so called 'Judges' in Israel between the conquest of Canaan and the first king. Jephtha lived in Gilead and was a member of the Tribe of Manasseh. He was judge for six years. (Judges 12:7) His father's name was also Gilead.

Being driven out by his half brothers, he took up dwelling in Tob, east of Gilead. Here some men opposing the Ammonites, put themselves under his command. (Judges 11:3) When Israel was gathering to go to war agaist Ammon, they looked for a God-appointed man. They decided to go to Jephtha.

He is recalled in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:32) as an example of a man of faith, because of his vow to give his daughter to God, which has been the subject of many debates among readers. It is likely that this was a practice of dedicating women to virginity. However, some have believed he really sacrificed her as an offering. (Judges 11:34) But Jephtha was a faithful servant of God, who said unto Moses that such an offering was in his eyes totally abhorrent. (Leviticus 18:21)

However, Leviticus 27:28-29 makes specific provision for the sacrifice of "all that belongs" to a man, including his people - ie: slaves. Perhaps in "whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house," Jephtha anticipated a slave or household servant. one does not, after all, normally keep livestock in the house, and they do not normally come out to greet one when one gets home.

Alternatively, the main point of this story may be to instruct young girls as to how to behave should they ever be selected for sacrifice (verses 37-38). That is, it is a normative tale.

Later, Jephtha went to war against the Ephraimites, who refused to acknowledge him. The story is remembered for the killing of the fugitive Ephraimites, who pronounced the Hebrew word shibboleth as sibboleth. In this rebellious action, 42,000 people lost their lives. (Judges 12:5,6)

• Jephtha (Jephthah) -- an oratorio (1751) by Handel based on the story of Jephtha with a libretto by the Rev. Thomas Morell, following Judges (Chapter 11) and "Jephthas sive votum" - "Jeptha or the Vow"(1554) by G. Buchanan.