Conquests of Israel, as far as concerned the case in point-and having proved the just claims of Israel, declared that unless the king of Ammon ceased from his demands, war would become just and necessary. He, therefore, solemnly appealed to Jehovah the the Judge, to decide the right between Israel and the Ammonites.

By an extraordinary communication of the Spirit of the Lord, as a spirit of wisdom and valour, the people's choice of Jephthah was confirmed, and her was fitted for the service to which he was called. Being thus stirred up, he collected an army, and marched boldly to attack the enemy. Jephthah was earnest in prayer for Divine succour and deliverance; and added to his prayers a vow, which was very rash, unadvised, and improper: 'If," said he, "the Lord will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house, to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it for a burnt offering."

This vow appears to have been founded on a misapprehension of some precepts in the law of Moses; or perhaps on too great familiarity with the customs of the heathen. A great difference of opinion has subsisted among learned men as to the real nature of the vow, and its fulfilment. Some having supposed that as accursed persons and things were devoted to be wholly consumed, Jephthah mistakingly devoted an innocent individual in like manner; and that his

only daughter (for it was she who came forth to meet him) was thus sacrificed: others suppose that the vow extended no farther than to confine her to perpetual celibacy and solitude; and that the cause of lamentation was, not her cruel immolation, but her being proscribed from. becoming a mother in Israel, which of itself was reckoned a great reproach, and which necessarily precluded from all possibility of becoming a progenitress of the Messiah. It is not easy

to settle the point—much may be said on either side, but little proved. Jephthah's conduct was certainly very censurable: (1.) If he vowed blindly-promising to sacrifice to the Lord that which, for ought he knew, might prove unfit for sacrifice, as a dog, an ass, or, as it really proved, a human being. (2.) If he expected to be met by any of his family, he had no control over the future life of a child already come to maturity-far less had he a right to take away life. (3.) All devoted things unfit for sacrifice were to be redeemed at a set price. The firstborn was so redeemed, and even the vow of a Nazarite might be so dispensed with. If, therefore, Jephthah felt conscious of having opened his mouth unadvisedly, he ought to have availed himself of this provision. (4.) If Jephthah's vow extended only to solitude and celibacy, it was a vow by no means sanctioned in the law, nor have we reason, from any part of scripture, to believe that such vows are at all acceptable to God. On the whole, as Mr. Scott very justly observes, "If he had understood the divine law, he

would have known that his vow bound him to nothing but deep repentance, unless he had accompanied his thank offerings at Shiloh with a sin-offering on this account." In general, we may learn the folly of attempting to do more than is commanded, or involved in the general duties of love to God and love to man; especially we are taught to be very cautious of entering into engagements that might involve ourselves or others in perplexity or temptation.

The conduct of Jephthah's daughter was truly amiable, praiseworthy, and pious; she came forth with every expression of dutiful affection, as well as of holy joy, to welcome her father on his safe return, after having completely defeated the foes of Israel and of God. On perceiving the extreme distress into which the sight of her had thrown him, and suspecting, or perhaps knowing, that he had made some vow to the Lord in which she was implicated, she not only submitted, but even urged him to the performance of that in which he had engaged-and prepared deliberately and unreservedly to fulfil his purpose. Her resolution and self-denial, her ready submission to parental authority, her cheerful piety, and her willingness to endure any thing for the honour of God and from love to his people, are lovely traits in her character-such as well deserve the imitation of young persons in general, and afford the most promising pledge of future eminence and usefulness on earth, or an early admission to the unmingled joys and triumphs of heaven.

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