And at the end of two months …: Jephthah’s daughter returned from wandering and weeping in the hills after two months just as she had promised (see verse 11.37). And renders the Hebrew expression wayehi (literally “And it was”). Several versions omit this expression (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation), but some retain it. It slows down the narrative and shows a new episode is beginning. Thus King James Version says “And it came to pass.” At the end of two months is literally “from the end of two months.” We might say “So it happened after two months had passed that….”
She returned to her father: Returned renders the key Hebrew verb shuv (see verse 2.19). Part of the beauty of this book is the way the author uses the same verbs over and over, with a wide variety of meanings. The phrase to her father underlines the girl’s obedience. There seems to be no hint here of ill feeling, anger, or rebellion on her part.
Who did with her according to his vow which he had made: This clause is independent and quite emphatic in Hebrew, literally “and he did to her his vow that he had vowed.” The Hebrew verb meaning “do” comes to the forefront once again (see verse 11.36-37). The word vow is certainly in focus here, and closes the inclusio begun in verse 11.30. In many languages it will be hard to keep the emphasis here, but possible models are “He fulfilled the vow he had made” and “He did exactly as he had promised.” The style here is subdued, with no reference to ritual killing and sacrifice. However, the use of the verb did seems to imply that he literally sacrificed his own daughter.
She had never known a man is literally “And she, she did not know a man,” which means she never had sexual relations. Throughout the Old Testament the Hebrew verb here is a euphemism for sexual relations, within or outside marriage (see, for example, Gen 4.17, 25). The placement and structure of this clause in Hebrew convey a sad note. The hope of parents is to see their children grown and married. Good News Translation says “and she died still a virgin” (similarly New Living Translation, Revised English Bible), but this model says more than the text. In English Contemporary English Version is better with “and she never got married,” a euphemistic but natural way to speak of her virginity.
And it became a custom in Israel: This clause introduces the tradition described in the next verse. Good News Translation puts a paragraph break here to show that it links directly with what follows, but this seems unnecessary. Custom renders a Hebrew noun that can refer to a regular practice or a law. However, there is no other reference to this custom in the Bible.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .