Yiftach's Vow/2
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Yiftach's Vow
Exegetical Approaches
Sacrificed His Daughter
Intentional Outcome
Yiftach's plan – According to this approach, Yiftach's original vow was to sacrifice a human.
"וְהָיָה לַי"י"
Purpose of Yiftach's vow
"וַתֵּבְךְּ עַל בְּתוּלֶיהָ"
"לְתַנּוֹת לְבַת יִפְתָּח"
Evaluation of Yiftach's action
Spiritual level of the nation
Permitting the vow
Purpose of the story
Mistaken Outcome
Yiftach's intention was to sacrifice an animal.
Yiftach's plan
"וְהָיָה לַי"י"
Purpose of Yiftach's vow
"וַתֵּבְךְּ עַל בְּתוּלֶיהָ"
"לְתַנּוֹת לְבַת יִפְתָּח"
Evaluation of Yiftach's action
Spiritual level of the nation
Permitting the vow
Purpose of the story
Sanctified His Daughter to Hashem
Yiftach's plan – These commentators read the verse "וְהָיָה לַי"י וְהַעֲלִיתִיהוּ עֹלָה" as two options, depending who or what will come out of Yiftach's house. If it will be an animal, his fate will be to be sacrificed, and if it will be a human "וְהָיָה לַי"י".
"וְהָיָה לַי"י" – Radak and Ralbag explain that Yiftach's daughter was to seclusive from the rest of the world. Ralbag explicates that she couldn't marry any man, in contrast to Shemuel who was to be seclusive but could get married because he is special to Hashem's service in other ways.
Purpose of Yiftach's vow
"וַתֵּבְךְּ עַל בְּתוּלֶיהָ" – This approach understands that Yiftach's daughter cried about her בתולים because she wasn't going to get married.
"לְתַנּוֹת לְבַת יִפְתָּח"
Evaluation of Yiftach's action
Spiritual level of the nation
Permitting the vow
Purpose of the story
