Metaphysical meaning of Jephthah (mbd)
Jephthah (in A. V., Hebrews 11:32, Jephthae), jeph'-thah (Heb.)--whom He (Jehovah) sets free; he will open, i. e., as a door; he will loosen; he will unbind; He (Jehovah) is the open door; He (Jehovah) is the open way, i. e., to freedom.
"The Gileadite," son of Gilead, but his mother was a harlot. He was driven from home by Gilead's legitimate sons and lived in the land of Tob. Later he became a judge and deliverer of Israel. Because of a vow that he made to Jehovah, he sacrificed his daughter, his only child, or devoted her to the Lord, perhaps not to death but to a state of virginity and service in the Temple throughout her life (Judg. 11:1 to 12:7).
Meta. A very influential thought in the judgment faculty in man. Though cast out as evil by the more formal, established religious thoughts (his brethren), and denied inheritance with them, this Jephthah thought persists in holding to the good, to perfection. (Jephthah dwelt in the land of Tob, and Tob means good; the idea in the word is that all good and well-being come from the divine light within one.) Through Jehovah, the I AM (the open door to freedom when unified with the idea of wholeness, Truth, and understanding), the Jephthah thought becomes first a deliverer and then a judge of Israel (the true religious and spiritual thoughts of the consciousness). It even takes precedence over its brothers--which makes us think of Jesus' words to the effect that the publicans and harlots should enter the kingdom before self-righteous religious persons. This is because publicans and harlots believe and are cleansed when the Christ reveals Himself to the consciousness, while self-righteous persons, as well as self-righteous thoughts and ideals, are very likely to reject that which is truly spiritual (see Matthew 21:31, 32). So Jephthah, this ruling thought, having been given authority, leads the Israelites (true thoughts) to victory over the Ammonites (impure, ignorant, and disorderly thoughts), the soul is established in purity and Truth, and the land (body) has peace.
In fewer words, Jephthah could be said to be the judgment faculty set free from carnal thought and desire (his mother was a harlot) and restored to its rightful place in consciousness as the deliverer and judge of Israel.
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Preceding Entry: Jemuel
Following Entry: Jephunneh
