Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

But god had with himself before in secret decreed, that he should be judge over all Israel, which manifestly appeareth by those words which we shall afterward hear: And the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. Farther, we must consider, that Jephthah therefore fled, because his brethren had thrust him out of his fathers inheritance, neither left they him any thing to defend his life with all: wherefore he had rather fly, and live in exile, then to live with ignominy in his country. This undoubtedly came of a noble stout courage, that he would not live there, where he continually heard his birth upbraided unto him, and where all men counted him for a bastard. Therefore he got him to an other place, and exercised the art of warfare. It is also possible, that that matter came in controversy, and the Judges, to gratify the legitimate brethren, did not only judge that he should be deprived of his fathers goods,¹ but also be thrust out of the city, and seemeth to me very probable. For when the Gileadites came unto him, and of their own accord offered unto him the principality, he answered: Did not ye expel me out of the city? These words declare that Jephthah was handled more severely, then the law commanded. For the law commanded not to banish bastards. The Gileadites answer that they did so in deed, but as before they could expel him, so also now it was in their power, to call him home again and make him ruler. But now, saith ⟨image 190⟩Jephthah, you call me again when ye are in misery. As though he would have said, otherwise ye would not have called me again. It is so, say they, and therefore we come unto thee, that thou mayest fight against our enemies: because we are afflicted.

But god had with himself before in secret decreed, that he shoulde be iudge ouer all Israell, whiche manifestlye appeareth by those woordes whiche we shall afterward heare: And the spirite of the Lord came vpon Iiphtah. Farther, we must consider, that Iiphtah therfore fled, bicause his bretherne had thrust him out of his fathers inheritance, neither left they him any thing to defend his life with all: wherfore he had rather fly, and liue in exile, then to liue with ignominye in his country. This vndoubtedly came of a noble stoute courage, that he woulde not liue there, where he continuallye hearde his byrth vpbraided vnto him, and where al men counted him for a bastard. Therfore he got him to an other place, and exercised the arte of warrefare. It is also possible, that that matter came in controuersy, and the Iudges, to gratify the legitimate bretherne, did not onely iudge that he should be depriued of his fathers goods,