Overview
Judges 11:1, The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should be their head; Judges 11:12, The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain; Judges 11:29, Jephthah’s vow; Judges 11:32, His conquest of the Ammonites; Judges 11:34, He performs his vow on his daughter.

Jephthah: Hebrews 11:32, called Jephthae
a mighty: Judges 6:12, 2 Kings 5:1
an harlot: Heb. a woman
an harlot: Probably zonah should be rendered as in Joshua 2:1, a hostess, or inn-keeper, so Targum of Jonathan, wehoo bar ittetha pundekeetha, "and he was the son of a woman, a tavern-keeper." She was very probably a Canaanite, as she is called, Judges 11:2, a strange woman, ishah achereth, "a woman of another race;" and on this account his brethren drove him from the family, as not having a full right to the inheritance.
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:38 - children 1 Samuel 12:11 - Jephthah 1 Kings 3:16 - harlots

from his brethren: Heb. from the face of
Tob: Probably the same as Ish-Tob; and appears to have been a part of Syria, near Zobah, Rehob, and Maachah, east of Jordan, and in the most northern part of the portion of Manasseh. If so, it could not be far from Gilead, the country of Jephthah. This country is called Tobie or Tubin, 1; Mac Hebrews 5:13, and the Jews who inhabited this district Tubieni, 2; Mac Hebrews 12:17. 2 Samuel 10:6.
vain men: Judges 9:4, 1 Samuel 22:2, 1 Samuel 27:2, 1 Samuel 30:22-24, Job 30:1-10, Acts 17:5
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 13:7 - vain men

am 2817, bc 1187, An, Ex, Is, 304
in process of time: Heb. after days. Judges 11:4
Reciprocal: Judges 3:31 - Israel 2 Chronicles 27:5 - the king of the Ammonites

Reciprocal: Isaiah 3:6 - a man

If ye bring: Numbers 32:20-29
Reciprocal: Judges 8:23 - I will

head: Judges 11:8
uttered: 1 Samuel 23:9-12, 1 Kings 3:7-9, 2 Corinthians 3:5, James 1:5, James 1:17
Jephthah uttered: That is, upon his elevation, he immediately retired to his devotion, and in prayer spread the whole matter before God, both his choice to the office, and his execution of the office, as one that had his eye ever toward the Lord, and would do nothing without him; that leaned not to his own understanding or courage, but depended on the Almighty God, and his favour. This is an ensample worthy of universal imitation; in All Our Ways, whether great or apparently subordinate, let us acknowledge God and seek his direction. So shall we make our way prosperous, and obtain that peace which passeth all understanding. Jephthah opened his campaign with prayer.
before: Judges 10:17, Judges 20:1, 1 Samuel 10:17, 1 Samuel 11:15
Mizpeh: This Mizpeh was east of Jordan in the mountains of Gilead - Genesis 31:49,and hence called Mizpeh of Gilead - Judges 11:29,to distinguish it from another place of the same name, west of Jordan, in the tribe of Judah. Joshua 15:38
Reciprocal: Numbers 30:2 - vow a vow Joshua 13:26 - Ramathmizpeh Judges 10:18 - he shall be Judges 11:34 - Mizpeh 1 Samuel 8:21 - he rehearsed 2 Samuel 5:3 - before 1 Chronicles 11:3 - before

sent messengers: In this Jephthah acted in accordance with the law of Moses; and hence the justice of his cause would appear more forcibly to the people. Numbers 20:14, Numbers 21:21, Deuteronomy 2:26, Deuteronomy 20:10, Deuteronomy 20:11, Proverbs 25:8, Proverbs 25:9, Matthew 18:15, Matthew 18:16
What hast: 2 Kings 14:8-12
Reciprocal: Judges 12:2 - I and my 2 Samuel 10:1 - king Nehemiah 4:7 - the Ammonites Joel 3:4 - and what

Because Israel: Numbers 21:24-26, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9
from Arnon: That is, all the land which had belonged to the Amorites and Moabites.
Jabbok: Genesis 32:22, Deuteronomy 2:37, Deuteronomy 3:16
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:19 - General Joshua 12:2 - Jabbok Joshua 13:25 - half 2 Kings 8:6 - Restore all Jeremiah 49:1 - their king

But when: The whole of these messages shew, Jephthah had well studied the book of Moses. His arguments also are very clear and cogent, and his demands reasonable; for he only required that the Ammonites should cease to harass a people who had neither injured them, nor intended to do so.
walked: Numbers 14:25, Deuteronomy 1:40, Joshua 5:6
came: Genesis 14:7, Numbers 13:26, Numbers 20:1, Deuteronomy 1:46
Reciprocal: Numbers 20:14 - Moses Zechariah 1:20 - four

sent messengers: Numbers 20:14-21, Deuteronomy 2:4-8, Deuteronomy 2:29
the king: Deuteronomy 2:9
abode: Numbers 20:1, Numbers 20:16
Reciprocal: Numbers 20:20 - Thou shalt Deuteronomy 1:46 - General

went: Numbers 20:22, Numbers 21:10-13, Numbers 33:37-44, Deuteronomy 2:1-8
compassed: Numbers 21:4-9
came by: Numbers 21:11
pitched: Numbers 21:13, Numbers 22:36
Reciprocal: Numbers 20:21 - wherefore Deuteronomy 2:8 - And when Deuteronomy 2:24 - the river Arnon Deuteronomy 2:29 - As the children Joshua 12:1 - from the Isaiah 16:2 - the fords Jeremiah 48:20 - Arnon Zechariah 1:20 - four

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:31 - deliver the Numbers 21:24 - Israel Joshua 6:2 - I have 2 Chronicles 13:5 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 13:16 - God delivered Amos 2:9 - I the

And they: Deuteronomy 2:36
from the wilderness: From Arabia Deserta on the east, to Jordan on the west.
Reciprocal: Joshua 12:2 - Jabbok

Jephthah shews that the Israelites did not take the land of the Moabites or Ammonites, but that of the Amorites, which they had conquered from Sihon their king; and although the Amorites had taken the lands in question from the Ammonites, yet the title by which Israel held them was good, because they took them, not from the Ammonites, but from the Amorites.
Reciprocal: Genesis 48:22 - Amorite Joshua 5:1 - all the kings 2 Chronicles 20:11 - to cast us

Wilt not thou possess: This is simply an argumentum ad hominem; in which Jephthah argues on this principles recognized by the king of Ammon. As if he had said, "You suppose that the land which you possess was given you by your god Chemosh; and therefore will not relinquish what you believe you hold by a divine right. Now we know that Jehovah, our God, has given us the land of the Israelites; and therefore we will not give it up."
Chemosh: Numbers 21:29, 1 Kings 11:7, Jeremiah 48:7, Jeremiah 48:46
whomsoever: Deuteronomy 9:4, Deuteronomy 9:5, Deuteronomy 18:12, Joshua 3:10, Psalms 44:2, Psalms 78:55, Micah 4:5
Reciprocal: Numbers 20:21 - wherefore Deuteronomy 2:21 - but the Lord Joshua 6:2 - the king Ruth 1:15 - her gods 2 Kings 1:2 - god 2 Kings 23:13 - Chemosh 2 Chronicles 20:11 - to cast us Jeremiah 48:13 - ashamed

the spirit: Judges 3:10, Judges 6:34, Judges 13:25, Numbers 11:25, 1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 16:13-15, 1 Chronicles 12:18
Jephthah: "Jephthah seems to have been judge only of north-east Israel."
over Mizpeh: Judges 10:17
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:49 - Mizpah Numbers 27:18 - a man Joshua 13:26 - Ramathmizpeh Judges 11:11 - Mizpeh Judges 11:39 - did with Judges 14:6 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 11:6 - Spirit of God 1 Samuel 22:3 - Mizpeh

whatsoever: etc. Heb. that which cometh forth, which shall come forth
shall surely: Leviticus 27:2, Leviticus 27:3, Leviticus 27:28, Leviticus 27:29, 1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 1:28, 1 Samuel 2:18, 1 Samuel 14:24, 1 Samuel 14:44, Psalms 66:13, Psalms 66:14
and I will: or, or I will, etc. Wehaaleetheehoo olah, rather, as Dr. Randolph and others contend, "and I will offer Him (or to Him, i.e., Jehovah) a burnt offering;" for hoo may with much more propriety be referred to the person to whom the sacrifice was to be made, than to the thing to be sacrificed. Unless understood in this way, or as the marginal reading, it must have been the vow of a heathen or a madman. If a dog, or other uncleaned animal had met him, he could not have made it a burnt offering; or if his neighbour's wife, sons, etc., his vow gave him no right over them. Leviticus 27:11, Leviticus 27:12, Deuteronomy 23:18, Psalms 66:13, Isaiah 66:3
Reciprocal: Genesis 22:2 - and offer Genesis 28:20 - vowed Genesis 28:21 - I come Leviticus 5:4 - to do evil Numbers 30:2 - vow a vow Deuteronomy 23:23 - That which Judges 11:39 - did with Judges 21:1 - There 2 Kings 3:27 - offered him Micah 6:7 - shall Matthew 14:9 - the oath's

Aroer: Deuteronomy 2:36
Minnith: Situated, according to Eusebius, four miles from Heshbon, towards Philadelphia or Rabbath. Ezekiel 27:17
the plain: or, Abel

Mizpeh: Judges 11:11, Judges 10:17
his daughter: Judges 5:1-31, Exodus 15:20, 1 Samuel 18:6, 1 Samuel 18:7, Psalms 68:25, Psalms 148:11, Psalms 148:12, Psalms 150:4, Jeremiah 31:4, Jeremiah 31:13
beside her: or, he had not of his own either son or daughter, Heb. of himself
neither: Zechariah 12:10, Luke 7:12, Luke 8:42, Luke 9:38
Reciprocal: Genesis 14:17 - to Exodus 18:7 - went Judges 21:21 - dance 2 Samuel 1:20 - Philistines 2 Samuel 6:14 - danced Psalms 149:3 - in the dance

go up and down: Heb. go and go down
bewail: 1 Samuel 1:6, Luke 1:25

Reciprocal: Song of Solomon 8:13 - the companions

did with: That Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter, but consecrated her to the service of God in the tabernacle, in a state of celibacy, will we imagine be evident from the following consideration -
1. Human sacrifices were ever an abomination to Jehovah, of which Jephthah could not be ignorant; and consequently he would neither have made such a vow, nor carried it into execution.
2. We are expressly told - Judges 11:29 that Jephthah was under the influence of the Spirit of God, which would effectually prevent him from embruing his hands in the blood of his own child.
3. He had it in his power to redeem his daughter - Leviticus 27:4, and surely his only child must have been of more value than thirty shekles.
4. Besides, who was to perform the horrid rite? Not Jephthah himself, who was no priest, and in whom it would have been most unnatural and inhuman; and the priests would certainly have dissuaded him from it.
5. The sacred historian informs us, that she bewailed her virginity, that she knew no man, and that the Israelitish women went yearly to comfort or lament with her. Judges 11:31, Leviticus 27:28, Leviticus 27:29, Deuteronomy 12:31, Isaiah 66:3
to his vow: 1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 1:22, 1 Samuel 1:24, 1 Samuel 1:28, 1 Samuel 2:18
custom: or, ordinance
Reciprocal: Genesis 22:2 - and offer Numbers 30:2 - vow a vow 2 Kings 3:27 - offered him Micah 6:7 - shall Matthew 14:9 - the oath's

yearly: Heb. from year to year
lament: or, to talk with, Judges 5:11
four days: 1 Kings 9:25
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:19 - General