The Vow Fulfilled

BY CHARLES LE BRUN, THE FRENCH MASTER, DIED 1690.

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"And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed."-Jud., 11, 39.

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ND she knew no man. And it was a custom in

Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly

to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gilead

ite four days in a year."

Perhaps the Biblical conclusion of this pathetic tale is not entirely clear. Most students of the Holy Book have understood it, as has the artist of the present picture, that Jephthah slew his daughter upon an altar, even as Abraham planned to do with Isaac. There can be no question that the ordinary method of "sacrifice" meant the destruction of the thing sacrificed; with a sheep or bullock it meant death. Yet the insistence with which the Mosaic law always sets itself against those human sacrifices common in many pagan worships, this, combined with the horror of the deed itself, with the certainty that God could never have desired or countenanced such cruelty, and with the emphasis which the story lays on the heroine's virginity, all these facts have suggested to some that perhaps Jephthah's sacrifice consisted only in consecrating his daughter to the service of the Lord, debarring her from marriage, and compelling her to live out her life in solitude.

1 Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worshippeth yearly at Shiloh. 4 He cherisheth Hannah, though barren and provoked by Peninnah. 9 Hannah in grief prayeth for a child. 12 Eli first rebuking her, afterwards blesseth her. 19 Hannah having borne Samuel, stayeth at home till he be weaned. 24 She presenteth him, according to her vow, to the Lord.

OW there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:

2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other

Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

4 ¶ And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: her womb.

but the LORD had shut uso provoked her sore, for to make her fret,

6 And her adversary

because the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?`am not I better to thee than ten sons?

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FIRST SAMUEL I—HANNAH'S PRAYER

9¶So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and