liberty1776:centuriespast:Jephthah’s Daughter (1905-07)Charles S. Ricketts (1866–1931)The Ashmolean
liberty1776:centuriespast:Jephthah’s Daughter (1905-07)Charles S. Ricketts (1866–1931)The Ashmolean Museum of Art and ArchaeologyIn the Bible story when the Judge, Jephthah leads the Israelite against the Ammonites he swears an oath that if God gives them victory in the battle :Whoever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me whenI return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it(Note: Or him) up for a burnt offering. —Judges 11:31The victorious Jephthah is met on his return by hisdaughter, his only child. Jephthah tears his clothes and cries, “Alas, mydaughter! You have brought me very low!” but is bound by his vow: “Ihave opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow” (Judges11:35). The girl asks for two months’ grace, “…that I may go up and downon the mountains and weep for my virginity” (Judges 11:37). And soJephthah “did with her according to his vow that he had made” (Judges11:39). The story ends by recounting how “the daughters of Israel wentyear by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in theyear” (Judges 11:40). -- source link