全新四年樂活讀經
W5 2012-02-24 (士11)
經文: 士師記 11:30-31 耶弗他就向耶和華許願，說：你若將亞捫人交在我手中，我從亞捫人那裡平平安安回來的時候，無論什麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。
默想: 耶弗他在與亞捫人戰爭之前，向耶和華許了一個衝動的願。如果耶和華保守他，幫助他戰勝亞捫人，並且平平安安的回來，他願意把第一個從家門出來迎接他的人，獻給耶和華作為燔祭。在此我們看見，當代以色列人，或許有將人獻為燔祭的習俗。耶弗他可能以為，第一個出來迎接他的，應該是家中的僕人。他萬萬沒有想到，當他平平安安回家時，第一個出來迎接他的，竟然是他所鍾愛的獨生愛女拿鼓跳舞，快樂出來迎接他。耶弗他非常痛苦。但是，他不敢輕易違背他向耶和華所許下的願。這個故事，讓我們學到許多屬靈的功課。我們在上帝面前，要謹慎自己的言詞。因為，我們口中所說出來的每一句話，上帝都記得且算數。另外，我們對於我們曾經向耶和華所許的願，一定要盡力遵守，不可任意違背。
題目: 耶弗他，其聰明可比基甸與大衛，他曾闡明以色列民有權居住迦南地，但因過於衝動，又不了解摩西律法而起誓所釀成的悲劇，試想，我們有時也會因一些小聰明成就大事，而有時也會因個性的一時衝動，而壞了大事?
11:1 基列人耶弗他是個大能的勇士，是妓女的兒子。耶弗他是基列所生的。
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
11:2 基列的妻也生了幾個兒子：他妻所生的兒子長大了，就趕逐耶弗他，說：「你不可在我們父家承受產業，因為你是妓女的兒子。」
And Gilead's wife also bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman."
11:3 耶弗他就逃避他的弟兄，去住在陀伯地，有些匪徒到他那裡聚集，與他一同出入。
Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows collected round Jephthah, and went raiding with him.
11:4 過了些日子，亞捫人攻打以色列。
After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.
11:5 亞捫人攻打以色列的時候，基列的長老到陀伯地去，要叫耶弗他回來；
And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob;
11:6 對耶弗他說：「請你來作我們的元帥，我們好與亞捫人爭戰。」
and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites."
11:7 耶弗他回答基列的長老說：「從前你們不是恨我、趕逐我出離父家嗎？現在你們遭遇急難為何到我這裡來呢？」
But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?"
11:8 基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「現在我們到你這裡來，是要你同我們去，與亞捫人爭戰；你可以作基列一切居民的領袖。」
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
11:9 耶弗他對基列的長老說：「你們叫我回去，與亞捫人爭戰，耶和華把他交給我，我可以作你們的領袖嗎？」
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."
11:10 基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「有耶和華在你我中間作見證，我們必定照你的話行。」
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say."
11:11 於是耶弗他同基列的長老回去，百姓就立耶弗他作領袖、作元帥。耶弗他在米斯巴將自己的一切話陳明在耶和華面前。
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.
11:12 耶弗他打發使者去見亞捫人的王，說：「你與我有甚麼相干，竟來到我國中攻打我呢？」
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, "What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
11:13 亞捫人的王回答耶弗他的使者說：「因為以色列人從埃及上來的時候佔據我的地，從亞嫩河到雅博河，直到約旦河。現在你要好好地將這地歸還吧！」
And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel on coming from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably."
11:14 耶弗他又打發使者去見亞捫人的王，
And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites
11:15 對他說：「耶弗他如此說，以色列人並沒有佔據摩押地和亞捫人的地。
and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,
11:16 以色列人從埃及上來乃是經過曠野到紅海，來到加低斯，
but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
11:17 就打發使者去見以東王，說：『求你容我從你的地經過。』以東王卻不應允。又照樣打發使者去見摩押王，他也不允准。以色列人就住在加低斯。
Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, `Let us pass, we pray, through your land'; but the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.
11:18 他們又經過曠野，繞著以東和摩押地，從摩押地的東邊過來，在亞嫩河邊安營，並沒有入摩押的境內，因為亞嫩河是摩押的邊界。
Then they journeyed through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
11:19 以色列人打發使者去見亞摩利王西宏，就是希實本的王，對他說：『求你容我們從你的地經過，往我們自己的地方去。』
Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, `Let us pass, we pray, through your land to our country.'
11:20 西宏卻不信服以色列人，不容他們經過他的境界，乃招聚他的眾民在雅雜安營，與以色列人爭戰。
But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel.
11:21 耶和華─以色列的 神將西宏和他的眾民都交在以色列人手中，以色列人就擊殺他們，得了亞摩利人的全地：
And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.
11:22 從亞嫩河到雅博河，從曠野直到約旦河。
And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
11:23 耶和華─以色列的 神在他百姓以色列面前趕出亞摩利人，你竟要得他們的地嗎？
So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?
11:24 你的神基抹所賜你的地你不是得為業嗎？耶和華─我們的 神在我們面前所趕出的人，我們就得他的地。
Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.
11:25 難道你比摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒還強嗎？他曾與以色列人爭競，或是與他們爭戰嗎？
Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?
11:26 以色列人住希實本和屬希實本的鄉村，亞羅珥和屬亞羅珥的鄉村，並沿亞嫩河的一切城邑，已經有三百年了；在這三百年之內，你們為甚麼沒有取回這些地方呢？
While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aro'er and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?
11:27 原來我沒有得罪你，你卻攻打我，惡待我。願審判人的耶和華今日在以色列人和亞捫人中間判斷是非。」
I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me; the LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."
11:28 但亞捫人的王不肯聽耶弗他打發人說的話。
But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah which he sent to him.
11:29 耶和華的靈降在耶弗他身上，他就經過基列和瑪拿西，來到基列的米斯巴，又從米斯巴來到亞捫人那裡。
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manas'seh, and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.
11:30 耶弗他就向耶和華許願，說：「你若將亞捫人交在我手中，
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand,
11:31 我從亞捫人那裡平平安安回來的時候，無論甚麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。」
then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD's, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering."
11:32 於是耶弗他往亞捫人那裡去，與他們爭戰；耶和華將他們交在他手中，
So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand.
11:33 他就大大殺敗他們，從亞羅珥到米匿，直到亞備勒•基拉明，攻取了二十座城。這樣亞捫人就被以色列人制伏了。
And he smote them from Aro'er to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.
11:34 耶弗他回米斯巴到了自己的家，不料，他女兒拿著鼓跳舞出來迎接他，是他獨生的，此外無兒無女。
Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
11:35 耶弗他看見她，就撕裂衣服，說：「哀哉！我的女兒啊，你使我甚是愁苦，叫我作難了；因為我已經向耶和華開口許願，不能挽回。」
And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow."
11:36 他女兒回答說：「父啊，你既向耶和華開口，就當照你口中所說的向我行，因耶和華已經在仇敵亞捫人身上為你報仇」；
And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."
11:37 又對父親說：「有一件事求你允准：容我去兩個月，與同伴在山上，好哀哭我終為處女。」
And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."
11:38 耶弗他說：「你去吧！」就容她去兩個月。她便和同伴去了，在山上為她終為處女哀哭。
And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
11:39 兩月已滿，她回到父親那裡，父親就照所許的願向她行了。女兒終身沒有親近男子。
And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. And it became a custom in Israel
11:40 此後以色列中有個規矩，每年以色列的女子去為基列人耶弗他的女兒哀哭四天。
that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
11:2 基列的妻也生了幾個兒子：他妻所生的兒子長大了，就趕逐耶弗他，說：「你不可在我們父家承受產業，因為你是妓女的兒子。」
And Gilead's wife also bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman."
11:3 耶弗他就逃避他的弟兄，去住在陀伯地，有些匪徒到他那裡聚集，與他一同出入。
Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows collected round Jephthah, and went raiding with him.
11:4 過了些日子，亞捫人攻打以色列。
After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.
11:5 亞捫人攻打以色列的時候，基列的長老到陀伯地去，要叫耶弗他回來；
And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob;
11:6 對耶弗他說：「請你來作我們的元帥，我們好與亞捫人爭戰。」
and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites."
11:7 耶弗他回答基列的長老說：「從前你們不是恨我、趕逐我出離父家嗎？現在你們遭遇急難為何到我這裡來呢？」
But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?"
11:8 基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「現在我們到你這裡來，是要你同我們去，與亞捫人爭戰；你可以作基列一切居民的領袖。」
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
11:9 耶弗他對基列的長老說：「你們叫我回去，與亞捫人爭戰，耶和華把他交給我，我可以作你們的領袖嗎？」
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."
11:10 基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「有耶和華在你我中間作見證，我們必定照你的話行。」
And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say."
11:11 於是耶弗他同基列的長老回去，百姓就立耶弗他作領袖、作元帥。耶弗他在米斯巴將自己的一切話陳明在耶和華面前。
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.
11:12 耶弗他打發使者去見亞捫人的王，說：「你與我有甚麼相干，竟來到我國中攻打我呢？」
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, "What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
11:13 亞捫人的王回答耶弗他的使者說：「因為以色列人從埃及上來的時候佔據我的地，從亞嫩河到雅博河，直到約旦河。現在你要好好地將這地歸還吧！」
And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel on coming from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably."
11:14 耶弗他又打發使者去見亞捫人的王，
And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites
11:15 對他說：「耶弗他如此說，以色列人並沒有佔據摩押地和亞捫人的地。
and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,
11:16 以色列人從埃及上來乃是經過曠野到紅海，來到加低斯，
but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
11:17 就打發使者去見以東王，說：『求你容我從你的地經過。』以東王卻不應允。又照樣打發使者去見摩押王，他也不允准。以色列人就住在加低斯。
Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, `Let us pass, we pray, through your land'; but the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.
11:18 他們又經過曠野，繞著以東和摩押地，從摩押地的東邊過來，在亞嫩河邊安營，並沒有入摩押的境內，因為亞嫩河是摩押的邊界。
Then they journeyed through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
11:19 以色列人打發使者去見亞摩利王西宏，就是希實本的王，對他說：『求你容我們從你的地經過，往我們自己的地方去。』
Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, `Let us pass, we pray, through your land to our country.'
11:20 西宏卻不信服以色列人，不容他們經過他的境界，乃招聚他的眾民在雅雜安營，與以色列人爭戰。
But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel.
11:21 耶和華─以色列的 神將西宏和他的眾民都交在以色列人手中，以色列人就擊殺他們，得了亞摩利人的全地：
And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.
11:22 從亞嫩河到雅博河，從曠野直到約旦河。
And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
11:23 耶和華─以色列的 神在他百姓以色列面前趕出亞摩利人，你竟要得他們的地嗎？
So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?
11:24 你的神基抹所賜你的地你不是得為業嗎？耶和華─我們的 神在我們面前所趕出的人，我們就得他的地。
Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.
11:25 難道你比摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒還強嗎？他曾與以色列人爭競，或是與他們爭戰嗎？
Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?
11:26 以色列人住希實本和屬希實本的鄉村，亞羅珥和屬亞羅珥的鄉村，並沿亞嫩河的一切城邑，已經有三百年了；在這三百年之內，你們為甚麼沒有取回這些地方呢？
While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aro'er and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?
11:27 原來我沒有得罪你，你卻攻打我，惡待我。願審判人的耶和華今日在以色列人和亞捫人中間判斷是非。」
I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me; the LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."
11:28 但亞捫人的王不肯聽耶弗他打發人說的話。
But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah which he sent to him.
11:29 耶和華的靈降在耶弗他身上，他就經過基列和瑪拿西，來到基列的米斯巴，又從米斯巴來到亞捫人那裡。
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manas'seh, and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.
11:30 耶弗他就向耶和華許願，說：「你若將亞捫人交在我手中，
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand,
11:31 我從亞捫人那裡平平安安回來的時候，無論甚麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。」
then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD's, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering."
11:32 於是耶弗他往亞捫人那裡去，與他們爭戰；耶和華將他們交在他手中，
So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand.
11:33 他就大大殺敗他們，從亞羅珥到米匿，直到亞備勒•基拉明，攻取了二十座城。這樣亞捫人就被以色列人制伏了。
And he smote them from Aro'er to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.
11:34 耶弗他回米斯巴到了自己的家，不料，他女兒拿著鼓跳舞出來迎接他，是他獨生的，此外無兒無女。
Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
11:35 耶弗他看見她，就撕裂衣服，說：「哀哉！我的女兒啊，你使我甚是愁苦，叫我作難了；因為我已經向耶和華開口許願，不能挽回。」
And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow."
11:36 他女兒回答說：「父啊，你既向耶和華開口，就當照你口中所說的向我行，因耶和華已經在仇敵亞捫人身上為你報仇」；
And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."
11:37 又對父親說：「有一件事求你允准：容我去兩個月，與同伴在山上，好哀哭我終為處女。」
And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."
11:38 耶弗他說：「你去吧！」就容她去兩個月。她便和同伴去了，在山上為她終為處女哀哭。
And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
11:39 兩月已滿，她回到父親那裡，父親就照所許的願向她行了。女兒終身沒有親近男子。
And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. And it became a custom in Israel
11:40 此後以色列中有個規矩，每年以色列的女子去為基列人耶弗他的女兒哀哭四天。
that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.
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『耶弗他就向耶和華許願，說：「你若將亞捫人交在我手中，我從亞捫人那裡平平安安回來的時候，無論什麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。」』（士師記 11:30～31節）
回覆刪除『你不可向耶和華你的神這樣行，因為他們向他們的神行了耶和華所憎嫌所恨惡的一切事，甚至將自己的兒女用火焚燒，獻與他們的神。』(申命記 12:31節)
耶弗他用『談條件』的方式向耶和華許願。誇下海口，結果只好把親生的獨生女，當燔祭獻上。這種用人當祭物作為燔祭，是摩西律法所不許可的(申命記 12:31節)。然而更重要的一點是，耶弗他用『談條件』的方式向耶和華許願。說：「你若將亞捫人交在我手中，。。。無論什麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。」（士師記 11:30～31節）
從摩押王獻他的長子，在城上獻為燔祭。以色列人遭遇耶和華的大怒一例。（參列下3：26～27）；我們知道耶和華也不喜悅耶弗他用人當祭物，獻的燔祭，會惹耶和華的怒氣。可見耶弗他的魯莽起誓和導致喪失女兒的生命是可悲的，是沒有意義的。
求主幫助我們，當我們向上帝禱告祈求，活許願時，要很小心，絕不可用『談條件』的方式向耶和華許願。上帝是不會悅納的。