שופטים, פרק י״א, פסוק מ׳

The tragic fate of Jephthah's daughter left a profound impact on Israelite society, inspiring a permanent, annual tradition among the women [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. For generations, young women would journey into the mountains each year to observe this custom [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, the exact nature of their gathering depends on two differing views regarding what actually happened to the young woman.

One perspective maintains that the women gathered to weep and lament her tragic death [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. According to this view, her death was the result of a terrible misunderstanding. Both Jephthah and his daughter mistakenly believed that his vow to God was absolute and could not be taken back. In reality, the vow could have been annulled or redeemed with a financial payment. Tragically, a bitter dispute over honor and prestige between Jephthah and Phinehas the Priest prevented them from resolving the matter. As a result, the young woman lost her life, and God severely punished both leaders [רד״ק].

A different tradition suggests a less fatal, though still sorrowful, outcome. In this view, the young woman was not put to death but was instead condemned to a life of total isolation, locked away in her home [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Because she lived in absolute seclusion, the annual journey of the Israelite women was not to mourn a death, but to offer comfort and conversation [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. For four days every year, the young women would visit to ease her sadness, speak to her heart, and keep her company before she returned to her lonely existence [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].