Jephthah and a compromised people (Judg 10:17–11:3)
As the story continues, we expect God to raise up a judge (e.g. Judg 3:9, 15), but this is not mentioned. Instead, the elders of Gilead (the area closest to the Ammonite threat), advertise the leadership job (10:17). We may again recognise ourselves in the picture: we cry out to God, but then go off to find our own solution without waiting for Him.
Jephthah’s story illustrates well Judges’ overall point about Israel’s compromised relationship with God. Jephthah’s father has an encounter with a prostitute indicating at least sexual laxity, at worst, an engagement in sacred prostitution, a Canaanite practice to ensure the fertility of land and family. Jephthah’s name means ‘he opens’, likely a reference to a god opening the womb, but we are never told which god is credited with this or who named the child. Is this a mother’s (even a prostitute’s) joy over a baby or was Gilead’s marriage barren at that stage and is his acceptance of the boy motivated by a desire for a son?
To sexual immorality and possibly pagan practices is added injustice when his half-brothers disinherit Jephthah out of greed. In ancient Israel before the Babylonian exile, it was the father who counted, so that by law Jephthah had every right to inherit. That this was not a partisan act by the brothers but was legally sanctioned (in a court case) by leaders of the community is clear when Jephthah later accuses the elders of driving him out (v.7). No wonder that, disowned but clearly talented, Jephthah tries to prove himself. The result, however, is again questionable: the men he attracts under his leadership the biblical writer describes by a dubious title ‘worthless [lit. empty] fellows’ (v.3 NASB). This is the same term used of Abimelech’s hired thugs who kill his brothers so that he might become undisputed leader (Judg 9:4).
This is a dismal picture and it should humble us that God still does not give up on His people. However, we should acknowledge that the Christian Church’s reputation is also tarnished. Globally, one hears of embezzlement, sexual allegations, child abuse and cover ups and while we may distance ourselves from these with ‘It wouldn’t happen in our church’, we need to mourn that Christians, the bearers of Christ’s name, are associated with such practices. May the sadness we feel over reading about such a compromised people in Judges, lead us to renew our personal allegiance to God and seek to be godly ambassadors for Christ.
