Jephthah met by his daughter by Gustave Doré, Judges 11, Bible.Gallery
Jephthah met by his daughter created and it was drawn with engraving style.
Artwork Description
The plate depicts one of the most poignant incidents found within the realm of literature. In this tale, a daughter's well-intentioned attempt to honor and felicitate her father inadvertently becomes the catalyst for plunging him into the depths of sorrow.
The central figure, Jephthah, carries with him a stigma due to his birth circumstances. Exiled from his home, he seeks refuge in a neighboring territory, eventually amassing a group of individuals with precarious destinies. He evolves into a kind of roving adventurer, noted for his boldness and martial prowess. When his compatriots engage in a struggle against the Ammonites, they call upon him to lead their forces. They propose making him the leader of all Gilead's inhabitants. He accepts their offer but, prior to engaging in battle, dispatches a formal ultimatum to the enemy, urging them to retreat. Upon their refusal, he reiterates the demand, providing a comprehensive rationale. This incident highlights that he wasn't the untamed and reckless figure some portray him as.
When the king of the Ammonites remains obstinate, Jephthah proceeds with his assault, preceding it with a solemn vow. He swears that should he return triumphant, he would offer to the Lord whatever first emerged from his house's entrance to greet him. Triumph he does, dealing a significant blow to his adversaries. Yet, his oath culminates in a tragically unforeseen outcome. As he approaches his home, his daughter steps out to welcome him with music and dance, embodying the exuberant celebration of their victory. What follows is a poignant contrast between her joyous elation and the heart-wrenching fate it inadvertently ushers in. Her actions are blameless, guided solely by her natural filial devotion. Nonetheless, her very expression of jubilation condemns her to suffer the consequences of her father's impulsive vow.
Similar narratives like Homer and Aeschylus' "Iphigenia" and Sophocles' "Antigone" draw parallels, yet this tale possesses a poignant element lacking in those classics. Here, it is the young woman herself who unknowingly triggers the tragedy, her fall from exultation to desolation occurring in an instant.