Jephthah the Gileadite
By RW Bro John Andrews
The story of Jephthah Our masonic ritual includes a reference to the war between the Ammonites and Jephthah, a Gileaditish leader and judge in the land of Israel. The story of Jephthah is found in Judges Chapter 11 and 12.
J
ephthah is described as a ‘mighty man of valour’ in the land of Israel and was the son of a harlot. Jephthah’s father Gilead had two more sons who following the death of their father, expelled Jephthah from the family, saying to him ‘Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.’ With this Jephthah fled and lived in the land of Tob, a district on the east of the Jordan, about 13 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee. The kingdom of Ammon adjoined Israel and sometime after Jephthah was expelled the Ammonites declared war
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on Israel. Jephthah was summoned and requested to return to lead the fight against the Ammonites. It’s pretty easy to understand Jephthah’s surprise at this approach – and his initial response – ‘Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? And why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?’ The elders promised that if Jephthah returned and fought the Ammonites he would be the `head over all inhabitants of Gilead’. Jephthah returned and was appointed head and leader of the army. He sent a message to the King of Ammon asking why the Ammonites
had invaded the Gileaditish territory. The King of Ammon put forward the falsehood that Israel had taken their land when they returned from Egypt and therefore they intended to continue the invasion. Jephthah had no option but to fight to repel the invasion. Before leading his army in battle he made a vow to the Lord – ‘If thou shalt deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering’. This promise having been
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