Today, we will study the character of Jephthah as we continue reading through the Book of Judges. Jephthah had a somewhat ambiguous background; he was the son of a woman who seemed to have been a prostitute. As he grew up, he had many half-brothers, which likely created tension among them. Eventually, his brothers drove him away, saying he would not inherit anything from their father’s house. Jephthah fled to another land, unable to live with his brothers. There, a group of outcasts gathered around him, and they went in and out together. The translation of "outcasts" is somewhat ambiguous; rather than portraying them negatively as vagabonds or rogues, it seems more appropriate to view them as wounded individuals, marginalized people who gathered around Jephthah in shared suffering. You might think Jephthah was someone who dressed well and carried himself with confidence, but today we see that he was deeply wounded.
Yes, Jephthah was a man filled with wounds. At first glance, it seems he must have been hurt by his mother. The pressure from his brothers must have been intense, and they likely discriminated against him. Given his questionable birth, he probably also felt a lot of pain from his father. What was his father doing? He fathered Jephthah but did not protect him, leading to much resentment toward his father. On top of that, he was driven out of his hometown. He must have had a vague sense of hurt from the world around him. How strong must his resistance to the world have been? He must have felt a lot of discomfort in his heart regarding his situation. He likely despised the world. Yes, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Jephthah was a man filled with wounds from the world and from his brothers. Yet, Jephthah seized an opportunity. He received God’s grace. When the nation of Ammon attacked Israel, Jephthah had the chance to lead his people into battle against them. He became a hero for Israel, returning home in glory, and the power structure of Israel was remarkably reshaped around him.
Having achieved a great victory in the war against Ammon, one would think that Jephthah would continue to prosper and experience only good things. However, another significant issue arose for him. Thousands of people gathered to confront Jephthah, which must have been very difficult for him. Just after winning a war, before he could even enjoy his victory, they came to him, praising him and elevating him, yet at the same time, they were questioning him. You see, it’s like climbing one mountain only to find another. We’ve accomplished something great, and just when we thought things might settle down, new, complicated problems arise. When unexpected issues come up, it can be overwhelming. It must have been very hard for him.
