The hand of the Painter confidently setteth forth the Picture of _Jephthah_ in the posture of _Abraham_, sacrificing his only daughter: Thus is it commonly received, and hath had the attest of many worthy Writers. Notwithstanding upon enquiry we find the matter doubtful, and many upon probable grounds to have been of another opinion: conceiving in this oblation not a natural but a civil kind of death, and a separation only unto the Lord. For that he pursued not his vow unto a literal oblation, there want not arguments both from the Text. [SN: Judg. 11.39] and reason. For first, It is evident that she deplored her Virginity, and not her death; Let me go up and down the mountains, and bewail my Virginity, I and my fellows. Secondly, When it is said, that _Jephthah_ did unto her according unto his vow, it is immediately subjoyned, _Et non cognovit virum_, and she knew no man; which as immediate in words, was probably most near in sense unto the vow. Thirdly, It is said in the Text, that the daughters of _Israel_ went yearly to talk with the daughter of _Jephthah_ four dayes in the year; which had she been sacrificed, they could not have done: For whereas the word is sometime translated to lament, yet doth it also signifie to talk or have conference with one, and by _Tremellius_, who was well able to Judge of the Original, it is in this sense translated: _Ibant filii Israelitarum, ad confabulandum cum filia Jephthaci, quatuor diebus quotannis_: And so it is also set down in the marginal notes of our Translation. And from this annual concourse of the daughters of _Israel_, it is not improbable in future Ages, the daughter of _Jephthah_ came to be worshipped as a Deity; and had by the _Samaritans_ an annual festivity observed unto her honour, as _Epiphanius_ hath left recorded in the Heresie of the _Melchidecians_.