A Whore’s Son Judges Israel

Because Yehovah’s people practiced evil, biblical history records a whore’s son judges Israel. A revolving cycle of Israel’s struggle with evil and returning to God continues in Judges 11 -12:7. Whereas this particular event records how a whore’s son is called by God to deliver Israel from the attack of the Ammonites. Jephthah, the son called, is a mighty warrior and gang leader who had been ostracized from his father Gilead’s inheritance by his half-brothers.

Although Jephthah had been kicked to the countryside by the men of Gilead, nevertheless, they valued his fighting prowess and spirit. Therefore, they invited him to become head over their army and region. Consequently, all the people gathered at Mizpeh and consented before Yehovah that Jephthah be acknowledged as head over Gilead. Following his commission as commander-in-chief and king, Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon demanding to know why he was being attacked.

In answer to Jephthah’s inquiry, the king of Ammon replied that Israel had taken his land when they came out of Egypt. He insists that the land be returned peaceably. Using a diplomatic counter, Jephthah recounts how Israel had been denied passage through Edom and Moab. And how, after requesting passage, Sihon, the king of the Amorites, had come out to attack Israel. As a result, Yehovah defeated the Amorites and gave their land to Israel. Since Yehovah had given the land to Israel, Jephthah posits, shall we give it to the Amorites? Jephthah, then, expresses his faith that the Lord will judge between Israel and the Ammonites.

As it was, the king of the Ammonites not listening, the stage became set for war. Judges declares that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah prompting him to pass over Manasseh and Mizpeh of Gilead to attack the children of the Ammon. With a vow, he asked Yehovah to deliver the children of Ammon into his hands. And, through the battle, the Lord did indeed deliver them into his hands. He returned home to great triumph of victory. However, his vow that he would offer up as burnt offering that which first greeted him from his house became a grief that would bring him low. For it was his daughter, his only child, that turned victory into defeat.

Apparently, the Ephraimites did not think very highly of Jephthah and their brothers the people of Gilead. Because of their envy at Gilead’s victory over the Ammonites, they proposed to burn out Jephthah and his household. However, Jephthah beat them to the punch by capturing the fords of the Jordan and killing every Ephraimite who could not correctly pronounce the word Shibboleth (stream). His victories through faith, his might in the power of the Holy Ghost made this son of a whore a judge in Israel for six years.

Regardless of your birth or the circumstances of your background, Yehovah can make of you a powerful force in your community and world. Trusting God, no matter what people think of you, will pay off even though you suffer a little while. What God has given to you do not count of little value to be stowed or given away. Let all of the light he has provided shine forth as a bright noon day. Your gift is not to be vowed as some bargain with God but used to bring him glory.