OT Action News: Jephthah's Vow

Chris: Hi, this is Chris. Welcome to Adventures in Odyssey.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh, hi there. Welcome to Odyssey. I'm John Avery Whittaker, but most folks around here call me Whit. Why don't you get the whole family together and join us for another exciting adventure in Odyssey.
Brink Chatley: His story starts in Gilead.
Jephthah: Give us his name.
Chris: Shared by Dwight with OT Action News.
Guest (Male): Our judge.
Gamaliel: It was actually a very common occurrence in biblical times.
Chris: These folks have never heard of the people's right to know.
John Avery Whittaker: And now Kids Radio at Whit's End presents another edition of Adventures in the Bible. I'm your host John Avery Whittaker and today we're going to start off by taking a phone call from one of our listeners. Uh hello, you're on the air.
Lisa: Hi Mr. Whittaker. My name is Lisa.
John Avery Whittaker: Oh yes, Lisa. Uh you have a question?
Lisa: Yeah, I have this acquaintance. His name is Nick.
John Avery Whittaker: Uh what about him?
Lisa: Well, he likes to use a certain phrase that I don't think he should be using. The phrase I swear. He says it whenever he wants you to believe him.
Brink Chatley: We interrupt this program to bring you a special report. Here is Brink Chatley. Crisis in the Middle East. This is Brink Chatley in the OT Action Newsroom reporting on a rapidly developing situation in the Transjordan region circa 1089 BC. A hostile tribe of Arabic people known as the Ammonites have declared war on the Hebrew nation and has already occupied a large section of Israelite territory. OT Action News reporter Jared Dwight is live on the scene with an update. Jared, where exactly are you?
Jared Dwight: Brink, I'm in a region called Gilead and I am standing just outside a large canvas structure known as a tent of meeting. It is well named as you can hear cuz inside the leaders of Israel are trying to decide what to do about the current crisis. I'm moving in closer so we can listen in.
Guest (Male): Brothers, brothers, please. Quiet, please. We will never get anywhere if we keep arguing this way.
Guest (Male): That is easy for you to say Gamaliel. Your lands have not yet been invaded. Let us see how calm you are when your family has been carried off and your crops burn.
Guest (Male): What are we going to do, Gamaliel? We have no armies on our farms. Certainly nothing capable of stopping the Ammonites.
Gamaliel: And it is not enough to simply stop them. They must be driven from the lands they have already occupied.
Guest (Male): But how? And by whom?
Gamaliel: There is someone who may be able to do the job.
Guest (Male): Who? Who?
Gamaliel: He is a mighty warrior and already has a large following of men.
Guest (Male): That is just what we need.
Gamaliel: Who is it? He may exact a great price in return for his services. Are you willing to pay it?
Guest (Male): Yes. Yes, anything.
Guest (Male): Name, Gamaliel. Give us his name.
Gamaliel: His name is Jephthah.
Guest (Male): Jephthah.
Guest (Male): Jephthah.
Guest (Male): Jephthah.
Guest (Male): Serious?
Gamaliel: Cannot allow him to become the champion of Israel.
Guest (Male): And what of your lands, your families? Will you allow Israel to be overrun by Ammon because of your pride?
Guest (Male): It is a difficult decision, Gamaliel.
Gamaliel: I really don't see that we have much choice, brothers. What do you say?
Guest (Male): Very well, Gamaliel. We will turn to Jephthah.
Gamaliel: And pay what he asks?
Guest (Male): We will.
Jared Dwight: You heard for yourself, Brink. Gamaliel is going to try to buy protection for the Israelites from Jephthah.
Brink Chatley: Jared, is there any clue as to just who this Jephthah might be?
Jared Dwight: No, Brink, but I find it very interesting that all the leaders were so wary of him. I'll see what I can find out.
Brink Chatley: I think it'd be better if you stuck with Gamaliel, Jared. We'll have the OT Action News staff find out about Jephthah.
Jared Dwight: Oh, well, okay, if that's the way you want it. I'll go with him to keep you up to date.
Brink Chatley: Of course that's the way I want it. I'm the anchor. We'll be back in a moment.
Chris: Now on the Adventures in Odyssey Club, the kids are considering the age old question.
Guest (Female): What do you want to be when you grow up?
Chris: Wyatt has one answer.
Wyatt: I want to be an insurance salesman.
Chris: Perk insurance is there for you from opening bell to class dismissed. And Sophie has another.
Sophie: I'm going to be a stand up comedian.
Guest (Female): You like making people laugh?
Guest (Male): You never made me laugh. Fine, I'll be a supermodel.
Sophie: Just made you laugh.
Chris: How will their career goals turn out? Find out on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.
Brink Chatley: Welcome back. I've just received word from our director that our crack OT Action News staff has found file footage of this Jephthah person about his early life. An interview conducted by our own Charles Gestalt. Do we have it queued up? Very good. All right, let's roll it then.
Charles Gestalt: His name is Jephthah. It means set free, which is appropriate because that's exactly what happened to him in his early life. His story starts in Gilead where he was the keeper of his father's sheep and that's where we first caught up with Jephthah.
Jephthah: Water is very important in the desert.
Charles Gestalt: Well, I can imagine.
Jephthah: This well is the only one for miles around. It's been in my family for generations.
Guest (Male): You, Jephthah. What do you think you're doing there?
Jephthah: Watering the sheep, brothers.
Guest (Male): Don't call us brother.
Jephthah: We share the same father. Why should I not call you brother?
Guest (Male): Gilead was our father, yes, but your mother was an inferior.
Jephthah: We stayed quiet while our father was alive because he desired it. But now that he rests with his ancestors, that will end.
Guest (Male): Right. You are not our brother. You have no place in this house.
Jephthah: And you have no right to our family's water.
Guest (Male): I am getting water for the sheep.
Jephthah: Not from this well you're not. Be gone you scum.
Guest (Male): Yes.
Guest (Male): Get out. Leave. Leave this place. Leave this business here.
Brink Chatley: Angered by his half brother's snobbery, Jephthah moved to the land of Tob where he became the leader of a band of rather unscrupulous men. What else does life have in store for Jephthah? Time will tell. I'm Charles Gestalt. Well, that certainly solves the mystery of why the Hebrew leaders reacted to Jephthah the way they did. I think that uh no no I I just received word that Gamaliel has arrived at Jephthah's home in Mizpah. We take you now to Jared Dwight. Jared, what's happening?
Jared Dwight: Brink, I am just outside Jephthah's house where there are a lot of people milling about. Gamaliel stopped on the outskirts of town to prepare himself for the meeting. He should be here any Wait. Here he comes now. I'll get closer.
Guest (Male): Jephthah. Jephthah. It is Gamaliel.
Jared Dwight: No answer so far. Maybe Jephthah is Wait. There's activity inside the house. Someone's coming out now. It's a goat.
Brink Chatley: A goat from inside the house?
Jared Dwight: This is a multi-level home, Brink. I guess they keep animals on the ground floor or something. Wait. There's more stirring in the house now. Someone's coming out.
Brink Chatley: Not a camel, I hope.
Jared Dwight: No, it's a woman.
Adina: Gamaliel, I welcome you to the house of Jephthah.
Guest (Male): Uh who are you?
Adina: I am Adina, Jephthah's daughter.
Guest (Male): Daughter? You are my uncle, are you not?
Gamaliel: I Yes, Adina. I am your uncle.
Jephthah: So you finally admit the truth, eh, brother?
Gamaliel: Jephthah. Yes. I admit we are brothers.
Jephthah: That can only mean one thing. You want something. What is it?
Gamaliel: You know of our troubles with the Ammonites.
Jephthah: I would be a poor leader indeed if I did not know that which my lowest private knows.
Gamaliel: I have been sent by our brothers and the heads of the other families of the land of Gilead to fetch a that is a request that you lead your army against the Ammonites and drive them out of our land. You all hated me and mistreated me and chased me out of the land and refused to let me share in our father's inheritance. And now that the Ammonites are hating you and mistreating you and chasing you out of the land, you come to me and expect my help?
Guest (Male): We need you.
Gamaliel: Didn't I need you? Didn't I need your acceptance and your love?
Guest (Male): Please. Suppose I do help you. What's in it for me?
Gamaliel: We are prepared to pay whatever you ask. Money?
Guest (Male): Do you think my honor can be bought so cheaply? And what do you want?
Gamaliel: If I do your bidding and protect you and your precious lands, then you and your brothers and the heads of the other families will make me your judge.
Guest (Male): Our judge?
Gamaliel: Yes. Overall Gilead. Do we have a bargain?
Guest (Male): You will make you our judge overall Gilead.
Gamaliel: Overall Gilead. It will be according to your words.
Guest (Male): Excellent. Then come, brother Gamaliel. Let us go inside and seal our bargain over wine. Adina, come pour the wine, girl.
Adina: Yes, father.
Jared Dwight: The crowd is thinned out a bit now, Brink. I am going to try to go inside Jephthah's house.
Guest (Male): You will wait out here.
Jared Dwight: But I am Jared Dwight with OT Action News.
Guest (Male): You will wait out here.
Jared Dwight: Right, like I was saying. I'll just wait out here. That was a very large guard blocking the doorway, Brink. So it looks like they're not going to let me in. Obviously these folks have never heard of the people's right to know. Back to you in the studio.
Brink Chatley: Thank you, Jared. Let's turn to our Middle East expert Eugene Meltsner. Any thoughts on what just transpired, Eugene?
Eugene Meltsner: Well, Brink, I think it's important to note that Jephthah did not request the title of king.
Brink Chatley: Yes, why is that?
Eugene Meltsner: At this time Israel did not recognize kings. The country was governed by judges. Judges were men and at least one woman in the case of Deborah whom God raised up to deliver Israel in times of trouble and distress. The name in Hebrew by the way is the participle of shepot which as you probably know means
Brink Chatley: No, I I'm I'm sorry to cut you off, Eugene, but I've just received word of an extraordinary development in the story. Let go now to our Washington correspondent Fred Schnappel. Fred, are you there?
Fred Schnappel: I am here, Brink, and with me live via satellite are the two principal figures in this conflict. From his home in Mizpah is Jephthah. Welcome, sir.
Jephthah: Thank you, Fred.
Fred Schnappel: And joining us from his palace in Ammon is the Ammonite king. Welcome to you, sir.
Jephthah: I am honored.
Fred Schnappel: Let's start with you, Jephthah. And now this meeting was your idea suggested as a way to perhaps avoid continued conflict. What would you like to say to the king of Ammon?
Jephthah: Well, Fred, I would first like to ask him why his armies are invading our lands.
Fred Schnappel: Your Majesty, do you have a response?
Jephthah: Yes, I do, Fred. It is not a matter of invasion. Rather we are simply reclaiming that which is rightfully ours.
Fred Schnappel: And how so?
Jephthah: The Hebrew nation took away our lands when they came up out of Egypt from Ammon and Jabok and Jordan. We have repeatedly demanded that these lands be restored peacefully. But our requests have gone unheeded. We felt we had no choice but to take the lands back by force.
Fred Schnappel: Mm. Jephthah, how do you respond?
Jephthah: I say respectfully that the king is mistaken.
Ammonite King: You call me a liar?
Fred Schnappel: Sorry, please.
Jephthah: I do not say that you are lying, merely that you have been misinformed. Israel did not take away land from either Moab or Ammon.
Fred Schnappel: Then why would the king think you have, sir?
Jephthah: That is for him to answer. All I can tell you is the history of my people. When the children of Israel came up from Egypt, they came to the territories of Edom and Moab and asked permission to pass through. They refused. So Israel asks Sihon, king of the Amorites, for permission to pass through his land.
Fred Schnappel: Now now just a moment, sir. The Amorites who were they?
Ammonite King: I will answer that, Fred. The Amorites are our cousins who lived alongside us in the disputed lands. Sihon was a great king.
Jephthah: Perhaps, but he also refused to let the Israelites pass through the land and even gathered his people together to fight against Israel. That was his downfall.
Fred Schnappel: How so?
Jephthah: The Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel. They beat the children of Ammon and passed through their country.
Ammonite King: You dispossessed us from our rightful land.
Jephthah: We did not. The Lord God of Israel did.
Ammonite King: There is no difference.
Jephthah: There is.
Fred Schnappel: Gentlemen, if you
Jephthah: By ourselves we are nothing, but if the Lord God is for us, who can stand against us?
Ammonite King: We will. We will fight you to regain what is rightfully ours.
Fred Schnappel: Now gentlemen, would you
Jephthah: God gave us the land to possess. Why should you possess it? Go possess that which your God gives you to possess. Whatever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, that will we possess.
Ammonite King: Son of a camel, you will not win.
Fred Schnappel: Now your Majesty, that kind of language
Ammonite King: Your Majesty, you will not survive. You will be destroyed and you, Jephthah, will die by my own hand. This discussion is over.
Fred Schnappel: Your Majesty. Sire. Well, Jephthah, what do you have to say in the face of such a threat?
Jephthah: It is unfortunate that we could not resolve our differences peacefully.
Fred Schnappel: With that in mind, what will you do now?
Jephthah: The king of Ammon has left us no choice. I will gather my men. We march on Ammon tonight. If you will excuse me.
Fred Schnappel: I'm Fred Schnappel. OT Action News will return in just a moment.
Chris: Want to contact us about the episodes you're hearing? Visit our website at adventuresinodyssey.com or talk to someone at Focus on the Family. Call 1 800 A Family with a parent's permission of course. We always love hearing from you.
Brink Chatley: And welcome back to OT Action News. I'm Brink Chatley. Well, several days have passed since Jephthah gathered his army and marched on Ammon. We take you now to OT Action News reporter Jared Dwight in Jephthah's camp. Jared, what's happening?
Jared Dwight: Brink, it is a few minutes before dawn. Across the great valley I can see the Ammonite army amassing for the coming battle. I've been trying to talk with Jephthah, but I haven't been able to. But now he's kneeling in a small clump of trees and talking. I'm moving closer to see if we can hear what he is saying.
Jephthah: To you and you alone be all glory and honor, power. For you are the Lord. You have brought me to this place to do your will. Drive these Ammonites from the land you gave our fathers. To you, oh Lord, do I make this vow. If you will without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, then whatever comes from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be the Lord's. And I will offer it up for a burnt offering. Your will be done, oh my God. Your will be done.
Jared Dwight: Back to you, Brink.
Brink Chatley: Thanks, Jared. Obviously a very private moment for Jephthah. Well, let's turn once again to our Middle East expert Eugene Meltsner. Eugene, explain a little bit about what we just heard, Jephthah making a vow to God.
Eugene Meltsner: It was actually a very common occurrence in biblical times, Brink, especially in the Old Testament. The making of vows was a very traditional and personal matter.
Brink Chatley: As we just witnessed.
Eugene Meltsner: Indeed. Though it was not something commanded by Mosaic law, there were rules regulating the carrying out of vows.
Brink Chatley: Rules?
Eugene Meltsner: Yes. The purpose of a vow was either to win a desired favor from the Lord.
Ammonite King: Allah Jephthah's vow.
Eugene Meltsner: Correct, or to express gratitude to him for some deliverance or benefit or to prove absolute devotion to him by way of certain abstinences and nonconformities.
Brink Chatley: I see.
Eugene Meltsner: On the other hand, it may be that
Brink Chatley: Eugene, Eugene, I'm sorry, but I'm receiving word that the army of Israel is about to engage the enemy. Let's go now to Jared Dwight. Jared, what is happening?
Jared Dwight: The Israelite army is in place, Brink, and the Ammonites are marching across the field towards us. So far the Israelites haven't made a move. Wait. Jephthah is stepping out now. He has something in his hands.
Gamaliel: Men of Gilead, up and to your places. This day we will show these Ammonites that there is a God in Israel. Let's go.
Jared Dwight: This is unbelievable. The Israelites are throwing themselves into the Ammonite army. I've never seen anything like it. Bodies are flying everywhere. Man against man, sword against shield, horses against chariots.
Brink Chatley: Jared, be careful out there.
Jared Dwight: Don't worry, Brink. I'm in a pretty secure place. No one's going to
Brink Chatley: Jared. Jared, we we seem to have momentarily lost contact with Jared Dwight. Eugene, perhaps you can explain a little more about the weaponry.
Eugene Meltsner: Oh, well, yes. In addition to the ones just mentioned by Jared, the ancients also employed battle axes and spiked maces, bows and arrows, and the ever popular sling along with a type of weaponry that
Brink Chatley: Oh Jared, are you all right? You're breaking up.
Jared Dwight: Trip on my mic, but I finally got it back.
Brink Chatley: What what's happening?
Jared Dwight: The battle is raging on, Brink. Israel seemed to falter for a while, but they've regained the upper hand and now they have the Ammonites on the run. And wait. Jephthah has caught up with the king of Ammon.
Gamaliel: Jephthah, your army is on the run. Your chariots have been destroyed. You are defeated. The Lord my God has delivered you into my hand. Surrender and you will be spared.
Guest (Male): Never.
Jared Dwight: They're fighting now, going at it hammer and tong, but Jephthah is clearly the better swordsman. He has the king down.
Gamaliel: The Ammonite dog. Die.
Brink Chatley: Jared. Well, apparently we're having more difficulty with our transmission, but if I heard properly, it would seem that Jephthah has led the Israelites to victory, Eugene.
Eugene Meltsner: Indeed, Brink. The children of Ammon are subdued before the children of Israel.
Brink Chatley: So Jephthah is in effect now the leader of Gilead.
Eugene Meltsner: Yes, and he also has a vow to keep
Jared Dwight: Brink, Brink, can you hear me?
Brink Chatley: Yes, I can, Jared. What's happening?
Jared Dwight: Brink, it was really the most incredible yet disgusting things I've ever seen. Jephthah has killed the king of Ammon and the Israelites have chased the Ammonites out of the land. It is a huge victory for Israel.
Brink Chatley: And where are you now?
Jared Dwight: I'm on the back of Jephthah's chariot and we're riding back to his home of Mizpah. Jephthah has sent messengers ahead to tell everybody the good news. The army is trilling behind us, at least those who were not chasing the Ammonites.
Eugene Meltsner: Excuse me, Brink. Did he just say that Jephthah has sent messengers ahead?
Brink Chatley: Yes, he did, Eugene. Why?
Eugene Meltsner: Well, well, it could cause problems
Jared Dwight: Brink, Brink.
Brink Chatley: Excuse me, Eugene. Yes, Jared. I'm here.
Jared Dwight: People are rushing out from Mizpah to meet us. We're hearing music, cambriens and liars. We're just outside Jephthah's house now. It's a real celebration.
Gamaliel: No. No.
Brink Chatley: Jared, what's happening?
Jared Dwight: I'm not sure. We stopped now and Jephthah has jumped out of the chariot and is running towards his house. There's someone running to meet him. It's Adina.
Ammonite King: Adina?
Gamaliel: The vow.
Jared Dwight: I'm moving closer to find out what's wrong.
Lisa: Father, father, what's wrong? Are you hurt?
Gamaliel: No. No.
Lisa: Then what is it?
Gamaliel: You have done what the Ammonites could not. You have broken my heart.
Lisa: Brink, how?
Gamaliel: My daughter, my only child. I have made a vow unto the Lord and I cannot go back.
Lisa: A vow? What vow?
Gamaliel: My child. Before the battle I vowed to the Lord that if you would deliver the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes from the doors of my house to meet me when I return, I would offer up to the Lord for a burnt offering.
Lisa: Father, no.
Gamaliel: My child, my only child, I am so sorry. I cannot go back on my vow. I cannot.
Lisa: I know, my father. You have made a vow unto the Lord and you you must do to me according to what you have vowed. I only ask this one thing. Let me go up to the mountains with my friends for two months to mourn that I will never marry. May I do this?
Gamaliel: Yes, you may go. Oh child. Father, I am so sorry. I am so sorry.
Lisa: I I think we should go back to you in the studio, Brink.
Brink Chatley: Tragic. Truly tragic. Eugene, will Jephthah actually sacrifice his daughter in the fire?
Eugene Meltsner: A good question, Brink. Human sacrifice is forbidden in Israel under Mosaic law which Jephthah obviously knows.
Brink Chatley: But we heard him vow that's what he would do.
Eugene Meltsner: Did we? Jephthah actually vowed that quote whatever comes from the doors of my house to meet me shall surely be the Lord's and I will offer it up for a burnt offering unquote. But that word and can also be translated as or which would change the meaning of the vow completely.
Brink Chatley: I see. He would either offer something up to the Lord or burn it as an offering.
Eugene Meltsner: Precisely, but even if he doesn't actually kill his daughter, Jephthah has effectively destroyed his family line in Israel.
Brink Chatley: How so?
Eugene Meltsner: His daughter is his only child. If she never marries, she'll have no children which is considered a great misfortune.
Brink Chatley: Oh yes, of course. As I said truly tragic. The sweet taste of victory turned bitter because of a rash vow. For Jared Dwight, Charles Gestalt, Fred Schnappel, Eugene Meltsner, and the entire OT Action News team, I'm Brink Chatley.
Fred Schnappel: We now return you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress.
John Avery Whittaker: And that's why Christians shouldn't make vows, Lisa. Understand?
Lisa: Yeah, and thanks. Um but could you repeat that verse one more time, please?
John Avery Whittaker: Certainly. Matthew 5 33 through 37 where Jesus said
Guest (Male): You've heard it said to the ancients, you shall not make false vows, but shall pay to the Lord your oaths. But I say to you not to swear at all, but let your yes be yes and your no be no. Anymore than that is of the devil.
John Avery Whittaker: You've been listening to Adventures in the Bible here on Kids Radio. Today's program featured Jared Dwight, Eugene Meltsner, Edwin Schnappel, and Philonius Vocher. And I'm John Avery Whittaker hoping you'll join us again next time. Bye for now.
Chris: Jephthah's tragic vow actually led to a tradition in ancient Israel. For years afterwards all the young women in the country would go into the mountains for four days each year to lament the fate of the daughter of Jephthah. Jephthah himself ruled Israel as a judge for the next six years and he was such a brave leader that he is mentioned in the so-called Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 32. And that's it for now except to say that if you'd like to write to us, we'd love to hear from you. Our address is Adventures in Odyssey, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80995 or in Canada write to Box 9800 Vancouver, BC V6B 4G3. And when you do, ask about how you can get your own copy of today's episode. It's called OT Action News Jephthah's Vow. Adventures in Odyssey is a presentation of Focus on the Family. OT Action News Jephthah's Vow was written and directed by Phil Lollar. Our production engineer was Todd Busteed and I'm Chris hoping you'll join us again next time for more Adventures in Odyssey.