What is "jephthah"

biblical judge of Israel, from Greek Iephthae, from Hebrew Yiphtah, literally "God opens," imperfective of pathah "he opened" (compare pethah "opening, entrance").

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.