After Jephthah heads out to the Ammonites to make battle, the next logical step is what we find in Judges 11:32–33, when Jephthah attacked and subdued the Ammonites. But there are two verses (Judges 11:30, Judges 11:31) that appear in the meantime. If they were not there, we would not miss them from the story. It would have simply been the case that the Spirit comes upon Jephthah, gives the Ammonites into his hand, the enemy is subdued, which should have been a simple narration of the judge’s victory over the enemy, much like in previous cycles. But in Judges 11:30 and Judges 11:31, Jephthah ruins everything.
30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,