od whatsoever should first meet him,
according to the condition of the thing; so as to offer it up as a
holocaust, if it were such a thing as might be offered by the law; or to
devote it otherwise to God, if it were not such as the law allowed to be
offered in sacrifice. And therefore they think the daughter of Jephte
was not slain by her father, but only consecrated to perpetual
virginity. But the common opinion followed by the generality of the holy
fathers and divines is, that she was offered as a holocaust, in
consequence of her father's vow: and that Jephte did not sin, at least
not mortally, neither in making, nor in keeping, his vow: since he is no
ways blamed for it in scripture; and was even inspired by God himself to
make the vow (as appears from ver. 29, 30) in consequence of which he
obtained the victory; and therefore he reasonably concluded that God,
who is the master of life and death, was pleased on this occasion to
dispense with his own law; and that it was the divine will he should
fulfil his vow.

11:32. And Jephte passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against
them: and the Lord delivered them into his hands.

11:33. And he smote them from Aroer till you come to Mennith, twenty
cities, and as far as Abel, which is set with vineyards, with a very
great slaughter: and the children of Ammon were humbled by the children
of Israel.

11:34. And when Jephte returned into Maspha, to his house, his only
daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other
children.

11:35. And when he saw her, he rent his garments, and said: Alas! my
daughter, thou hast deceived me, and thou thyself art deceived: for I
have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing.

11:36. And she answered him: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to
the Lord, do unto me whatsoever thou hast promised, since the victory
hath been granted to thee, and revenge of thy enemies.

11:37. And she said to her father: Grant me only this, which I desire:
Let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may
bewail my virginity with my companions.

Bewail my virginity... The bearing of children was much coveted under
the Old Testament, when women might hope that from some child of theirs,
the Saviour of the world might one day spring. But under the New
Testament virginity is preferred. 1 Cor. 7.35.

11:38. And he answered her: Go. And he sent her away for two months. And
when she was go