In this video listen to Judges 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Judges 11 we meet Jepthah, the son of an Israelite and a Canaanite prostitute who becomes the eighth judge. There is a backstory to Jepthah that we know basically nothing of. His heroics with a band of outlaws sounds like King David who is to come, and he gets a reputation for bravery. He is asked to judge Israel. Jepthath ends up fighting Ammon who holds a grudge that is 300 years old and demands the return of land.

The reply of Jephthah to Ammon ends up proving very helpful in dating the early history of Israel and the juges, and also helps firm up the early position for the Exodus at 1446 BC. There is no resolution and they go to war. As Jepthah leaves his home, he vows to offer to God whatever greets him on his return in exchange for victory ...