JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER

[cavil51]

JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER
PROLOGUE

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Apostle "It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with all the others in her city who refused to obey God, for she had given a friendly welcome to the spies."
Scribe "Master, did not Rahab lie? Why would the Holy Spirit tell you to include her here for is not lying both not Godly nor commendable?"
"The Holy Spirit is not telling me to include her as an approval of lying but as recognition of her faithfulness. When she showed mercy to the two spies she was acknowledging that she knew that God had given the land to the Israelites and that she wished for herself and her family to follow the Israelite God. It was her faith in the one true God that saved her and her family."
"May I continue?"
"Apologies Master, please continue."
"Well, how much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets ..."
"Master!" exclaimed the scribe.
"Yes, my Brother?"
"Did not Jephthah sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering to the Lord? Surely God would not honor that act?"
"Did he now? Come now Brother and let us reason together the story of Jephthah and his beloved daughter."

SEILA AT EIGHT

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Seila could hear her father's horse approaching. As she had done so many times before she rushed out to greet him. Her mother having died when she was so young left her with no other siblings and her father's banishment from Gilead left her with no immediate kin. Hence, her father was her whole world.
Jephthah's horse dwarfed Seila as she approached it's side. This horse who had literally stomped many an enemy to death was in the absolute control of Jephthah so he had no fears it would harm his precious little daughter. He dismounted and snatched the little girl up in his arms hugging her to him. She so small, he so large in comparison it appeared as if he were holding a doll. She hugged him as hard as she could about his neck.
"Papa, Papa I have missed you so!"
"As I have you little one. Look Seila, I have brought you some pretty stones to adorn your neck with." He handed her some precious gem stones.
"Oh Papa thank you so much! But your safe return from your campaigns is all I ever pray for."
Jephthah smiled to himself as he set her down. They walked back to the house with the reins of his horse in one hand and her little hand in the other.

SEILA AT TWELVE

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Seila was schooled by her nurse in all the talents and crafts she would need to know to be a good wife to her future husband. And as her nurse was the widow of a priest , she was also taught the history of her people and the commandments of God as recorded by Moses. Of particular interest to her was God's promise to Eve in the garden that Eve's seed would crush the evil one. Knowing that her father would have no other daughters she felt that if she played a role in this promise her father would be so very proud of her. To think that she could also be the one to whom God's promises would be fulfilled, humbled her.
Until that time when she would marry she kept these promises and thoughts close to her heart. She so very much wished to honor God and be the one chosen by God as the one to fulfill this prophecy. She would continue to study and pray in the hopes that God would find favor in her and perchance choose her. She knew no matter what though, that even if she was not to be the one to achieve this, she would at least be able to give her father many grandsons and granddaughters so that his lineage would continue and not die out from the Jewish people.
She was roused from her thoughts by some livestock who had wandered aimlessly into the main house. Homes in that time occasionally would have animals go in and out often greeting those who would come to the front door of the house.
Bother, she thought, as she went to search for a broom to clean up after their visit.

SEILA AT FIFTEEN

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Seila with the wooden practice sword in hand taunted her father. "I am coming for you father and I will show you no mercy!"
Jephthah amused at her challenge admitted to himself that he could not be more proud of his daughter.
His men, vain brigands that they were (having never suffered a defeat in any battle) would occasionally tease him as Seila and Jephthah would spar in the small arena.
"If she were but a son, Master, she would have already surpassed your victories!" they taunted.
No matter thought Jephthah. Seila was his only joy in life. He had resigned himself to schooling her in the art of war as her insistence that he do so started when she was so young that the weapons were usually larger than her. With time she grew into them and now was able to wield practically any weapon with a skill that even impressed his battle hardened men.
Seila came at her father with excitement and zeal. She was determined to land at least one blow as the two skirmished in the hot sun. He parried her attack with an ease that he did not reveal to her so as to not frustrate her attempt.
Jephthah smiled to himself inwardly. He was so very proud of his daughter. Never, would he have ever allowed her to participate in any of his battles but he recognized her desire to be worthy of him. She had already excelled in the daily tasks that would be assigned to her in her role as a wife and mother. And her grasp of the sacred writings was far beyond his. So he allowed this swordplay in recognition of her desire to be approved by her father but always watchful that no harm ever came to her in their mock combat.

SEILA AT SEVENTEEN

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Seila doted upon her father. She loved making him his favorite dishes and very honestly Jephthah relished eating them. Sometimes after dinner she would entertain him with dance accompanied by her timbrels. She had, along with her many friends, become quite the entertainer in dancing and song. Tonight however she noticed a change in his countenance, a moodiness about him which was uncommon to their evening repast.
"Father, what is it that bothers you this evening?"
"I have been summoned by the elders to Gilead, daughter"
"For what reason?" she inquired?
"Honestly, I do not know. For them to call me back to my father's land has very literally taken me off guard."
Seila could see the concern in her father. She so wished that she could assuage his apprehension.
"I suppose, we must wait until the council to find out exactly what their desire is."
"Well father, know this. When you return I will make your most favorite dish for you!"
"Thank you Seila. You are without a doubt, the greatest daughter any man could have been blessed by God with!"
Seila blushed at his comment. Maybe, she thought to herself, that upon his return she would enlist her friends to also dance for her father. That would cheer him up no matter what news he would hear in Gilead.

THE WAR COUNCIL

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"You come to me with this proposal even after it was you, my brothers, who banished me to Tob from Gilead and my father's house?" exclaimed Jephthah.
"Forgive us Brother. We were wrong to have treated you so. We beg you now to be our commander. Your victories in battle are well known to us. If you will but lead us in this fight against the Ammonites we will make you ruler over all of Gilead!"
"If I lead you into battle and the Lord grants me victory over the Ammonites, you swear that you will make me ruler over all the people of Gilead?"
"The Lord is our witness, we promise to do whatever you say."
So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead, and he became their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the leaders.

JEPHTHAH'S VOW

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Jephthah was in a state of worry. Here, finally, was his opportunity to reconcile with his kinsmen and return to his homeland. But he needed to win the upcoming war with the Ammonites. He knew he could count upon his men to fight with the savagery needed to win but what of the warriors of Gilead? Would they be committed to the cause? Would they fight with their whole hearts? He struggled with what to do. Finally he made his decision.
Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. "if you will indeed give the children of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, surely it shall belong to the Lord, or I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

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