Jephthah, a Manassite from Gilead, was a brave and brilliant military commander who, before a crucial battle against Ammon, made a significant vow to God. As he marched on Ammon, he promised that whatever came out of his house to meet him upon his return would be dedicated to the Lord, or if it were an animal, offered as a burnt offering. God evidently heard his plea, granting Jephthah a complete victory over Ammon. Upon returning home to Mizpah, he was met first by his only child, a daughter, which turned his jubilation into bitter grief. His daughter, understanding the gravity of the vow, agreed that it must be kept and requested two months to mourn her virginity before the vow was fulfilled. After this period, Jephthah carried out his vow, and his daughter's sacrifice was commemorated yearly by the women of Israel. The vow's wording suggests a dedication to God rather than a literal sacrifice, aligning with Jephthah's considered character and knowledge of the law, which abhorred human sacrifice. His grief, and that of his daughter, stemmed from her lifelong virginity and the end of Jephthah's family line, as she was his only child. The maidens of Israel praised her for sacrificing the valued prospect of marriage and children, showing her total devotion to God.