Judges 11:32-40 ▼

32 So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

33 And he smote them from Adoer, as far as the entrance of Machir, twenty cities, and as far as Abel Karmin, the plain of vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were defeated before the children of Israel.

34 Then Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and, behold, his daughter carne out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become today one of those that ruin me; for I have made a promise to God, and I cannot go back on it.

36 And his daughter said to him, My father, if you have made a promise to God, do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth; since the LORD has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37 And she said to her father, Grant me this thing only: let me alone two months that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.

38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow; and she knew no man. And it became a custom among the children of Israel,

40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to weep and lament over the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.