Judges 11 is about a mighty Gileadite warrior, Jephthah, who was given the responsibility of leading Gilead into war with the Ammonites. He tried to settle the dispute peacefully, but the king of Ammon paid no attention. "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
Jephthah went out and fought the Ammonites and devastated their towns and Israel subdued Ammon. When he returned home, his only child came out to greet him , dancing with tambourines. Jephthah was horrified as he recalled his vow to the Lord, but he fulfilled his promise since the Lord had avenged the enemies of Gilead.