From the Category, “The Eastern Eye”
[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.” As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]
In understanding the Scriptures it is important for us to understand the culture, but it doesn’t mean that we should necessarily follow that culture. Rather, it is in the understanding of the Eastern culture that we gain light and understanding about many things in the Bible.
There is a section in the book of Judges where understanding the culture sheds light and understanding. It is the record of Jepthtah making a vow unto the Lord. He promised to give in service the first to come out of his house if God would help him win a battle.
The Ammonites and Israel were at war. Before Jepthtah went to battle, he made a vow to God. He said to God, “If you give me victory, when I come back victorious, the first who comes to meet me, I will give unto You as a burnt offering,” meaning give them to God for service to God for the rest of their life.
God granted Jepthtah the victory. But it was his only child, his daughter, who came first, rejoicing to meet her dad, with instruments of music. Seeing her, he immediately “rent his clothes.”
Rent His Clothes
This expression in the Bible means to tear one’s mantle. It doesn’t mean that they ripped or tore their other clothing. They ripped or tore their mantle, as an outward sign of either anger or sorrow. In this case, it was to indicate sorrow. sorrow.
So, because it was his daughter who first met him, he rent his mantle. He then told his daughter that he had opened his mouth unto God and could not go back on what he told God. His daughter understood what he meant. She asked him if she could first go and “bewail her virginity.”
Bewail Her Virginity
A woman who wants to give herself in service to God must be a virgin. The expression “bewail her virginity” means that she would spend two months in preparation before joining herself to the Temple. She would go with her close friends to see relatives and other acquaintances, and say her goodbyes.
She would also spend time with those close companions in prayer, sanctifying and consecrating herself in preparation for leaving that life behind, and coming to the Temple to give her life in service to God. This she would do for two months.
The “bewailing of virginity” simply means preparing to be a servant in the Temple.
After two months her father takes her to the Temple. At the door of the Temple her head is shaved, and she puts a veil on her head. She then works and lives there in the Temple. She never leaves.
A Burnt Offering
The record in the book of Judges mentions that Jepthtah told God that he would offer the person as a burnt offering. One meaning of burnt offering is to kill at the altar. The other meaning is to give oneself to serve in the Temple, which is what it means in the record we are considering.
It is referred to as a burnt offering because a young woman given to service in the Temple suffers. She can never marry which in that culture was a disgrace and humiliating. That is part of the shame that she suffers.
She also cannot have children. That is also very humiliating to a woman in that culture. Those who chose to give their lives in service to the Temple endured that shame. Thus, it is referred to as being a burnt offering.
Lamented Her?
This record in Judges ends by saying that the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah. This is a pretty poor translation. Because of the word “lament” and a misunderstanding of the two types of burnt offerings, some have erroneously concluded that this means that Jephthah’s daughter was sacrificed, that she was brought to the Temple and killed.
The word “lament” does indicate that someone has died. But the Hebrew word that is translated “lament” would be much more accurately translated “talk with,” not “lament.” It means to talk with, to rehearse a matter. The root word in Hebrew means to attribute honor.
Her friends came to see her for four days every year. They would certainly have praised her for all she was doing in keeping her father’s promise to God. They would have praised her for agreeing to suffer the shame of not being married or having children.
In that culture the children were trained to follow what their father says. Their father’s word was to them God’s word. That is their culture. That is why she told her father, Jephthah, that whatever you told God, then that is what I will do.
And so her friends would come and talk to her, and praise her and make her feel glad. It must have been a very special time of the year for her.
I Cannot Go Back
The most striking and inspiring thing to me in this record is that Jephthah says that he could not go back on his word, on the promise he made to God. How many times have we made a promise to God and have gone back on our word? In that culture, what you said, you must do, at all costs.
Jephthah was a king with only one child. Everyone would know that his daughter was not married. He would endure the disgrace to the throne that would bring. People would say that his throne was cursed because his only daughter was not married.
He did not go to God and ask for a compromise. He did not try to explain to God that she was his only daughter and what all the ramifications would be not only to her, but to his throne. There are a lot of things he could have said to God, but instead, he kept his word. “I cannot go back!”
Are We Salted?
Perhaps we can begin fresh today and resolve that what we say unto God, we will keep our word. We may need to stop and think before we speak, and when we do speak, we ought to remember that we are talking to the Almighty.
And perhaps we could even carry it over to those we come in contact with. We can resolve to say what we mean and mean what we say. Biblically, that means that your words are salted.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians, that our speech should be seasoned with salt. In other words, say what you mean and mean what you say.
Again, with a little understanding of the times and culture in which the scriptures were written, the Bible becomes clear, and its richness shines brightly.
Judges 11:30 – 40:
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of 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.
So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
Mike Verdicchio
Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this? We’d love to hear what you think. To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment. If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.
Share This Article!
To share this article on social media, like Facebook, or, Twitter, there are links below.
Resources
There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written. The best I know of were written by Bishop K. C. Pillai. I have had the pleasure of listening to many recorded teaching by him.
He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced. But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window
Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)
Mike,
Great information! I did not know that “lament” here meant “to talk with” but how much more sense this passage makes now that I do! It always seemed a very negative record to me before.
Thank you for shedding light on this subject.
God bless you.
Chere, this is a great lesson in saying what you mean and mean what you say – maybe that’s why the Bible says to be swift to hear and slow to speak!
Thanks for the information it was wonderful, when I study from now on if I come across something I don’t understand I’ll surely stop by. It’s great to have culture understanding, for that dispensation.
You are very welcome, Camella. Understanding some of the culture really does help to unlock the Scriptures. Thanks for stopping by.
I had occasion today to visit your website and what I found has blessed me. The Bible text was explained clearly and concise with explanations as to the time and context it was written. Thank you very much.
Brenda, glad you found this blog and glad what you read blessed you! Come back any time!
This is a great exposition and piece. You’ve done a good word on this. I really appreciate this. May God continue to grant you grace and wisdom in the revelation of His words. Amen.
Adeola, thanks for the kind words – God bless you.
Knowledge is power and wisdom is profitable to direct. when i got to the chapter i was marveled and scared thinking that Jephthah actually killed his one and only virgin daughter. thank for this light you have shared. more grace in Jesus name.
DS, I am glad it made sense and gave you a little better understanding.
Thanks a lot for this great article!I would have misunderstood the whole scripture if I had not understood its real meaning through this article.God Bless!
Sharon, glad you learned something from the podcast – isn’t it great how a little understanding of the culture and times can open up the Scriptures? God bless you.
Was really blessed after reading this well brokendown explanation. Ĩ̷̊ actually thought Jephthah killed His only Daughter. Our GOD is a good GOD. I pray HE continues †̥̥Ơ̴̴͡ give us more understanding of HIS words. AMEN
Gabriel, so glad this article gave you more understanding and that it blessed you!
Thanks for this great revelation and down to earth explanation, I have always thought that he sacrificed her daughter, more of these, bcos the bible says “my people perish due to lack of wisdom”
Magrimo, I am glad you enjoyed this article. God bless you.
Mike,
Thank you for the explanation on the “bewail my virginity”. I believed he did not killed her but i did not know what actually happened to her God’s Blessings to you.
Neville, you’re very welcome; I’m glad it added some understanding. God bless you.
Thanks a lot for the explanation you offered.It added light to my understanding.God bless you.
You’re welcome, Frederick, has a blessed week.
Thank you so much my fellow Christian for having described that part of Judges because I obviously did a misinterpretation. May God bless you.
You are very welcome, Ramael.
God bless you, too!
would you please send me this enriching material
John, here is the link with all the information.
God bless you!
http://confidenceandjoy.com/free-lifetime-membership-to-enriching-your-life-now/
I was doing a Bible quiz and stumbled upon the verse. Your discourse has brought great wisdom and enlightenment to me. Continue to do the good work that God has called you to do. And may he richly bless you and your family.
Job, thank you for the kind comments; glad the article gave you some added understanding.
God bless you.
I have been very irritated over this story and thought it either was not factual or that Jepthtah was like so many other Israelites of his time, mixing pagan practices with Hebrew Law and suffered the consequences of mixed religion because it was definitely against Levitical Law to kill his daughter. Jehovah has shown me many answers about the “discrepancies” I have encountered in the Bible. Studying the customs and beliefs of the people in ancient and eastern cultures of that area and time has made the Bible make sense. The separation resulting from the separation of Christianity from it’s roots by the Constantine and Roman church has left us with a shallow faith and fairy tale beliefs based on erroneous facts.
Thanks for your article.
Bob, you are right.
Having an understanding of the customs, culture, and idioms of Bible times really helps to open up the Scriptures.
That’s one of the reasons I have a category on the site called, The Eastern Eye.
God bless you,
Mike
I jst finished reading this Chapter of Judges in my Bible and i logged onto the internet to look up for the meaning of “BEWAIL HER VIRGINITY” as used in the scripture. When i saw the comprehensive explanaition you detailed, i was so satisfied. God Bless You Sir. Continue in the great work.
Adigwe,
Glad you found the post and it helped your understanding.
God bless you.
I jst finished reading this Chapter of Judges in my Bible and i logged onto the internet to look up for the meaning of “BEWAIL HER VIRGINITY” as used in the scripture. When i saw the comprehensive explanaition you detailed, i was so satisfied. God Bless You Sir. Continue in the great work…
First of all thank you for this information. Second of all, what are your sources for this analysis? I happen to have briefly studied Hebrew transliteration in college and I think, at least for the definition of bewail, you may be mistaken, as well as for several others of these explanations, particularly at the time of the transliteration to the King James Version done in 1604. At that time, may of the meanings for these words which were chosen with incredible precision are in fact the same meanings for the words we use today, such as bewail meaning to regret or lament, with sadness. Is there evidence that it in fact meant praying and saying goodbyes, without the actual meaning of bewail being involved as we understood it in 1604? Thanks!
Adam,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, the word “bewail” of course carries the same meaning today – to weep or have grief.
However, according to Bishop KC Pillai, who was an expert on Eastern customs and idioms, the phrase, “Bewailing virginity” was the two months a young girl would take off to go with her girlfriends to the mountains and pray, say her good-byes. It was all part of preparation to minister in the temple.
God bless you,
I didn’t know that burnt offering means “give oneself to serve in the Temple” and not burnt offering. Such a very informative article. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment, Rj.
There are so many insights in the Bible from understanding some things about the culture at that time.
I hope you enjoy more “Eastern Eye” articles.
God bless you,
Thanks for the enlightenment, for i am always perplexed to read that Jephta sacrifice her daughter, i read that Abraham intended to do so, God forbade him, how could same God now allow Jephta to do sametthing he forbade Abraham from doing, thanks a lot for the light.
Thanks for leaving a comment, Emeka.
Glad it added some light.
God bless you,
Thanks for throwing a light on that scripture.
God bless you .
Ernest, thanks for the kind comment.
God bless you!
Just gained greater insight into the text and the place of good understanding of the Eastern culture in having effective understanding of the Bible. God bless you real good Sir.
Dike S. – thanks for the comment; glad you gained greater insight. God bless you.
Thanks a lot for these exposition, the first time I heard a teaching on this scripture Judges 11:38 where king jepthtah made a promise to God and on arrival her daughter asked if she can leave for two months to Bewail her virginity I was confused to I decided to study to know more before I came across this explicit exposition and other revelations I got reading your script which I believe is inspired by the Holy spirit. God bless you sir.
Osita, Thanks for the kind comments.
Bishop K. C. Pillai’s teachings brought great light to the western world, opening understanding of many scriptures.
I’m grateful to have heard him teach, read his books, and studied many of his teachings.
God bless you!
I just finished reading Judges 11:30-40 and went to google to search the meaning of “bewail” and saw your wonderful & awesome explanation of that scripture, I have always wondered on the scripture, how a human being was sacrificed to God. And the lovely nature of God that I know & have experience makes me to really wonder. But just after my devotion this morning I went to the scripture & then saw your explanation on Google. I believe it, God bless you Mike for that depth of insight you have given to me. Thanks.
Chinenye,
Glad the article was a help and a blessing.
Thanks for you kind comment.
God bless you…
thank you so much for shedding light. I can’t tell you how frightening it was after reading judges that I thought that it was the actual physical sacrifice but now being that I had time to read the words and I looked up exactly what be willing her virginity was a stumble upon your website thank you so much for the explanation and I believe God led me here thank you so much for taking your time out and being of service to the Lord bless you and your family
Crystal,
Thanks for your kind comments and I am glad that article gave you a little better understanding.
God bless you…
Thank you very much.I was getting confused and then the Lord led me to this explanation
Casaita,
I’m glad it gave you some understanding.
God bless you…
The background knowledge you gave of the culture has surely turned on a light bulb. It is amazing how one understanding can be enlightened. God bless you for this. It’s brings a whole new meaning to the passage. Additionallly, the information on salted bring new meaning to other passages.
Nikki, thanks for leaving a comment; glad the article blessed you!
An interesting exposition, but you say “Jepthah was a king and had only one child” – how do you know? If he had only one child, why would he say”whoever meets me at the door…” he would sacrifice, and how could he be surprised, then, when it was his daughter? Who else could have greeted him that he would be in a position to “offer”, that is, “sacrifice”?
Alois, thanks for leaving a comment. Really, any number of people of his household could have been the first to meet him.
God bless you.
Wow….i find this very helpful and interesting. I was a bit comfused with the word “bewailed her viginity and lament”. But with this wonderful insight i ve a good understanding. God bless u richly.
Ayoola, thanks for leaving a comment – glad it helped you to understand.
God bless you
This explanation was very clear. It made me understand what he promised and what his daughter ended up doing. Cause for a quick minute i thought he killed his daughter in sacrifice. Thank you for taking the time to write this very detailed explanation. May God keep blessing you to continue to do this very good works.
Jesus, thanks for leaving a comment; glad you have more understanding.
God bless you.
Hello,
Thank you so much for the article! I copied and pasted a website about 20 bible stories many find to be evil with the story from Judges included. I hope you can write more articles for these topics. Thank you again 🙂
http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=21
Psalm 23
DJM, thanks for the comment. All the best with your website. God bless you!
You are welcome. I meant I hope you can write articles in regards to the website I posted. Thanks again! 🙂
Psalm 23
Thanks for sharing this, I have always being puzzle with this. Knowing that God don’t involves with human sacrifices, therefore whats elese could this mean. So thank you for your article, and may God continue to bless you.
Christine, glad you found the article and that it was helpful. God bless you.
Brother Mike, God bless you beyond measure. For many years I struggled with this passage thinking how could God require a human burnt sacrifice. It left me confused. I decided to ask the Holy Spirit for help and He led me to your site.
Thank you so much and continue the good work in Jesus name Amen.
Michelle, thanks for leaving a comment; glad the article was helpful. God bless you.
Very well written. I love how you explained this account. Thank you.
You’re very welcome, Lois. God bless you.
Dear writer, i indeed appreciate your exposition of the word for it has brought in-dept understanding unto me
Onwuka,
Thanks for your kind comment. God bless you!
Great understanding, Thank You!
You’re very welcome, Lois. God bless you.
I found this to be so helpful. I enjoyed the breakdown of the story. I truly understand what it means when it has been written bewail my virginity. Thank you for the clarity.
Gloria, thanks for leaving a comment. So glad you have a little more understanding. God bless you.
Thanx so much this is a great revelation,may God bless you
Thanks for leaving a comment, Nantume – God bless you.
Wonderful, I was going through the Daily Manna of Deeper Life Bible Church 30/04/2017 Deut. 21:10-17,when I came across the word bewail and turned to google. What I saw was a big lesson. God bless.
Oburoh, glad you found the article – God bless you.
Thank God for this exposition on ‘Bewailing her virginity’ l hd alwys tot Jephthah killed and burnt hs only daughter to fulfil hs vow to God. God wil broaden yor vision and enlarge yor coast in Jesus Nm
Thank you for your comment, Funmi. I’m glad the article gave you some insight.
Thank you also for your kind prayer of blessing – very timely!
God bless you!
It was so much helpful. Thank you
Simon Peter, so very glad the article was helpful. God bless you.
This was a blessing to me for some time when you say things to people you have to really watch what you say and how you say it. Being responsible for the words you say humbling yourself being honored to your word can mean so much in your life as well as the person you’re speaking to say what you mean and mean what you say . that if I read nothing else about Jephthah and his battle with the amorites and his words to the Lord is about opening your mouth and saying things that you may later regret but he was a man of his word. Bless the name of Jesus for understanding and reading his word.
Gwendolyn, glad the article was a blessing for you, and you are right; we are responsible for the words we speak. God bless you.
I always loved this story in the bible. Jephthah’s daughter had a wonderful spirit when she received the news from her father. The above text enlightened me even more on this passage. Being obedient, suffering shame, and being faithful are some key points in this passage. I also loved the preparing oneself for the service of God. We all must “bewail our virginity” spiritually (leave our old ways behind) and become a servant of Christ.
-Bro. Michael Abraham
Thanks for the kind comment, Bro Michael, and your insight as well. God’s Word is so inspiring, so powerful, and so practical. God bless you.
Thank you, this explained the real meaning of bewailing and lament, much Appreciated. I love reading and understanding the word of God Almighty. He is my refuge, my Lord and my Saviour. Thank you for shedding light.
Ann, Thanks for your kind comments – God is our refuge, always!
God bless you…
Thanks so much for this chapter of the bible my understanding is clearer now, I never had this understanding before now.. I was thinking she was killed as a sacrifice for God Almighty base on the promise of her father..Thank God Almighty for giving you this deep understanding of His word to HIM be all the praise.. More grace God bless you.
Hi Stephanie, so glad that passage is clearer for you. And yes, all praise to our wonderful God! God bless you
So blessed all along i understood this verse differently
Bless you for opening my understanding
Thanks for leaving a comment, Jennifer – so glad it helped with your understanding. God bless you.
Hi Mike,
Good commentry, are you saying if a woman wants to give her life in full service to God she has to be a virgin, in this day and age, or that statement is just to emphasize the eastern culture back then?
Carol, thanks for leaving a comment.
Yes, eastern culture.
In this day and time, born again believers are encouraged to serve one another – how much or how little, each one decides.
God bless you.
Thank you Mr. Verdicchio, I am writing a book on Jephthah, and this is an opinion I’ve never heard or considered before. Thank you for writing your thoughts,it has caused me to think. and made my mind do summer-salts.
Kimberly, thanks for leaving a comment. I wish you much success with your new book. By the way, I am releasing a book very soon called, What Does It Mean? Bible Culture Revealed. It will explain over 48 verses. May I send you an email when it is released? God bless you,