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Jephthah vowed that if God gave him victory, whatever came out of the doors of his house to meet him on his return would be the LORD’s, and he would offer it up as a burnt offering (Judges 11:30–31). When he returned, his only child, his daughter, came out to meet him, and the narrative describes him carrying out his vow after she mourned her virginity (Judges 11:34–40).
30Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,
31then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh`s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
32So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.
33He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
34Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
35It happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can`t go back.
36She said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.
37She said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.
38He said, Go. He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
39It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel,
40that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.