33 And he smote them from Aroer even till thou come to Minnith, twenty cities, and so forth to [a]Abel of the vineyards, with an exceeding great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were humbled before the children of Israel.

34 ¶ Now when Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with [b]timbrels and dances, which was his only child: he had none other son, nor daughter.

35 And when he saw her, he [c]rent his clothes, and said, Alas my daughter, thou hast brought me low, and art of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and cannot go back.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:33 Or, the plain.
  2. Judges 11:34 According to the manner after the victory.
  3. Judges 11:35 Being overcome with blind zeal, and not considering whether the vow was lawful or no.

33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith,(A) as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing(B) to the sound of timbrels!(C) She was an only child.(D) Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes(E) and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.(F)

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