Jephthah Thrown Out - Judges 11:2

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah”, and in chapter eleven and verse two of Judges, we learn how, “Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah” where we read,

And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, you shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of a strange woman.

The verse reads, “And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, …” The writer began with the words, “and Gilead’s wife” which means “and Gilead’s, whose name means ‘rocky region’, female spouse” “bare him sons” which means ”birthed and engendered him, Gilead, male offspring and progeny”; “and his wife’s sons grew up” or “and the male offspring of his, Gilead’s, female spouse became great, promoted and powerful”, “and they thrust out Jephthah” which means “and they, Gilead’s male offspring, drove away, expelled and tossed out Jephthah whose name means ‘he opens’”, “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to him, Jeththah, the following words.  The writer shared how the female spouse of “Gilead” engendered male offspring for him, and they increased in power and expelled “Jephthah” and declared to him the following words.

The verse continues, “… you shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of a strange woman.” The writer added the words, “you shall not inherit” which means “you, Jephthah, will in no way or manner possess or acquire” “in our father’s house” or “within our, male progenitor Gilead’s dwelling place, habitation or abode”; “for you are the son” which means “because, since and on account that you, Jephthah, exist as the male offspring and progeny” “of a strange woman” or “belonging to a different and other female human being”. The writer shared how the “sons of Gilead’s wife” told “Jephthah” that he would in no way or manner have possessions within their “father’s” home because he was the offspring of a harlot. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how the “sons” of “Gilead’s wife” ganged up on “Jephthah” and expelled him from them. They told him that he would in no way have any possession within their “father’s home” because he was the offspring of a “strange woman” or prostitute. We shall see what happens with “Jephthah” in the following verses, but for now, let us be mindful that “Jephthah” had nothing to do with the person from whom he was born, but God knew him. God knows us as well, and He loves us. When we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us understand that He knows us and will use us regardless of who our parents are in this world. (See Jeremiah 1:5; John 3:16; Romans 8:16-17) 

Next time we learn how, “Jephthah fled from his brethren”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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