The news of Jephthah’s military victory reaches home before him, and so upon his return his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances
(Judges 11:34). That heightens the tension the reader already experiences from the foolish, brutal, and sinful vow. Meeting him with tambourines and dancing was the traditional greeting for a returning hero. But the moment of glory and honor for the conquering hero is dramatically transformed by the joyful sound of timbrel and dance of a welcoming girl coming out of Jephthah’s house.
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34 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.