Definition: And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she [was his] only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Judges 11:34. It's a really important and somewhat unsettling passage about a man who was trying to evade God’s judgment. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Core Situation: Jephthah is Being Targeted: The verse describes Jephthah, a leader of Israel, being confronted by a man named “Jedom.” He’s being accused of trying to avoid God’s punishment. Jedom’s Behavior: Jedom is having his daughter, who was his only child, come to meet him. He's setting up a performance – he’s bringing musical instruments (timbrels and dances) to greet him. The Crucial Point: She’s His Only Child. This is the key detail. He’s presenting this as a deliberate attempt to avoid being judged by God. What it Means on a Deeper Level: This verse is a powerful illustration of how humans can try to avoid their own consequences. It's essentially saying: “I’m trying to run away from what I’ve done, but I’m doing it in a way that makes me even worse.” Judgment is Coming: The Bible tells us that God is going to punish Israel for this behavior – for not acknowledging his judgment. Jephthah's Attempt to Escape: Jephthah was trying to make it look like he wasn’t involved, but what he was really doing was a way of trying to avoid being held accountable. Symbolic Meaning: It’s often interpreted as a metaphor for humanity’s tendency to try and escape responsibility for our actions. We can do that in many ways – through denial, deflection, or attempts to minimize the impact of our choices. In short, this verse warns against trying to avoid God's judgment by making it look like you’re doing something else. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible passage? Discuss the context of Judges 11? Answer any specific questions you have about this verse?