the book of Judges

[NewCreation435]

I am reading through the book of Judges right now. It is always amazing to me when I read it what a bloody book it is with lots of death and war and bad decisions. The book records a judge by the name of Jephthat who lived before Samson in Judges 11. He makes a vow that the whatever comes out of the door to greet him when he returns home he would sacrifice. He had one daughter. One. It strikes me that the odds were good it would be her. And then when he has a victory and comes home guess who comes out the door. And then he actually followed through on the vow! He doesn't have the common sense to realize he made a foolish vow.
It hardly seems that a lot of these people are someone to look up to.

 

[Lamb]

Here is something concerning his vow: https://splnewulm.org/church/judges-1129-33-jephthahs-vow/

"His vow broke the second commandment since it was done rashly and could have (and did) bind him to dire consequences. Under the second commandment, God wants us to use his name to his glory. “God’s name cannot be more grievously abused than for purposes of falsehood and deceit” (Luther, Large Catechism). We break it if we do any of the following:

1. If we curse someone in God’s name without his command (James 3:10-11).
2. If we take an oath (swear) falsely by God’s name (Leviticus 19:12).
3. If we lie in worldly business and in any matters involving money, property and honor, whether in a court or in the market or anywhere (Acts 5:3; Prov. 11:1; 20:23; Hos 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11).
4. If we dabble in witchcraft, the occult, or other superstitions such as astrology (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Galatians 5:20, etc.).
5. If we lie or deceive by God’s name (Matthew 15:7-9).
6. If we swear by anything other than God, which is idolatry (Matthew 5:36-37).
7. We also break this commandment along with the sixth and others by using obscene or profane language which mocks or belittles God’s gifts of sex or human life (1 Samuel 20:30; Mark 7:10).

Jesus said, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37; cp. James 5:12)."