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 the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in a year." Such is the nature of this, generally called the rash vow of Jephthah.

Many are the learned disputes as to whether Jephthah's daughter was slain or immolated upon the altar or not. Some affirm that she was, others that she was not, but only dedicated to the perpetual service of the sanctuary, and not allowed to marry. From all that is said about it in the text, I incline to the latter opinion, as well as from its being stated, "she knew no man!" This latter phrase, upon the supposition of her being slain, would be unmeaning and frivolous. The daughters of Israel are said to lament the daughter of Jephthah. Lament what? her death? it is not so said. They lamented with her, the virginity to which she was devoted. The word lament is rendered, in the margin of our Bibles, "to talk with," meaning to meditate with, or rehearse the service of the sanctuary with her. According to either of these significations (says Dr. Randolph) she must have survived the completion of her father's vow.

In this meditation, it is the spiritual or religious instruction we have alone to do with. Ammon, the God of the Egyptians, was the Jupiter of the Greeks; and the Ammonites were therefore worshippers of false gods. The Ammonites and Moabites generally united in attacking Israel, and thus were enemies. Abstractedly from persons, the Ammonites, being worshippers of false gods, and enemies to Israel, are the falsifications of Truth, and the Moabites, the adulterations of all that is good and pure. These two desire the total overthrow of all that is good and true in the human soul, and thus to effect the ruin