Jephthah

Jephthah (meaning whom God sets free or breaker through) was a judge of Israel from Gilead (east of the Jordan), son of a harlot, who was driven out by his half-brothers but became a military leader of the displaced. When the Ammonites threatened Israel, the elders of Gilead appealed to Jephthah for help, and after diplomatic negotiations with Ammon failed, he led Israel to a crushing victory (Judges 11:1-33). He judged Israel for six years.

Jephthah's vow — that he would sacrifice whatever first came through his door if God gave him victory — and its tragic fulfillment when his daughter came out dancing is one of the most debated narratives in the Old Testament (see Jephthah's Vow). Despite this, the New Testament includes him in the roll of faith's heroes (Hebrews 11:32), acknowledging his trust in God as judge between Israel and Ammon. His story also involves the Shibboleth episode (Judges 12:1-6), where fleeing Ephraimites were identified and killed at the Jordan fords by their inability to pronounce the word.