The narrative in Judges 11:34–38 is detailed in its account of the meeting between Jephthah and his daughter. But Judges 11:39–40 is very brief in its recounting of events. It is as if the author wanted to finish the horror story as soon as possible, and spare the reader the horrific details. He reports that Jephthah performed his vow, but does not tell us exactly how he did this. For that matter, he does not share the people’s reaction to what happened, or where the young women of Israel went for their annual ceremony.1
39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel