Jdg 11:29-31, THEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON JEPHTHAH, … AND JEPHTHAH MADE A VOW TO THE LORD, and said, “IF YOU WILL INDEED DELIVER THE PEOPLE OF AMMON INTO MY HANDS, THEN IT WILL BE THAT WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THE DOORS OF MY HOUSE TO MEET ME, … SHALL SURELY BE THE LORD’S, AND I WILL OFFER IT UP AS A BURNT OFFERING.”
Jephthah source of courage was the Spirit of the LORD that came upon him! Yet, a Spirit-filled man can do & say foolish things!
Jdg 11:34, When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, THERE WAS HIS DAUGHTER, COMING OUT TO MEET HIM WITH TIMBRELS AND DANCING; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
In Jephthah’s mind he thought a cow or sheep would come out yet it was his only daughter!
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREATER SIN IN THE EYES OF THE LORD FOR HIM TO ACTUALLY FULFILL HIS VOW AND SACRIFICE HIS DAUGHTER! THIS IS FOOLISHNESS, BETTER NOT TO VOW AT ALL! THERE IS NO NEED TO BRIBE GOD FOR HIS HELP; HE IS WITH US ALREADY!
Ecc 5:4-5, When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— BETTER NOT TO VOW THAN TO VOW AND NOT PAY.