11:35 tore his clothes. This was the sign of mourning over death.

opened my mouth. Although vows were sacred (Deut. 23:21–23), Jephthah’s action was wrong. Human sacrifice was absolutely forbidden in Israel (v. 39 note). It is evil to keep an evil vow. Unlawful oaths and vows must not be made or, if made, not kept (cf. Matt. 14:1–12).