Jephthah (pronounced ;
Yip̄tāḥ), appears in the
Book of Judges as a judge over
Israel for a period of six years . He lived in
Gilead and was a member either of the
tribe of Manasseh or of the
tribe of Gad. His father's name is also given as Gilead and, as his mother is described as a prostitute, this may mean that his father may have been any of the men of that area. Jephthah led the
Israelites in battle against
Ammon and, after defeating the Ammonites, fulfilled a rash
vow of his, by
sacrificing his daughter. Traditionally, Jephthah is listed among
major judges on the ground of the length of the biblical narrative referring to him, but his story also shows signs of minor judges, for instance only six years duration of his office as judge.