And she said unto him, my father, [if] thou hast opened
thy
mouth unto the Lord
The conditional word "if" may be left out, as it is not in the
original text; for her father had told her that he had opened his
mouth, or made a vow to the Lord, and had no doubt explained it
to her what it was, though it is not expressed; she knew it
respected her, as it had issued, and was concerning her, as
appears by her later request:
do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy
mouth;
which is a remarkable instance of filial subjection and obedience
to a parent, and which perhaps was strengthened by a like
mistaken notion as that of her father concerning the vow, that it
could not be dispensed with; and therefore was moved under a
sense of religion, as well as filial duty, to express herself in
this manner, as well as by what follows:
forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of
thine enemies,
even of the children of Ammon:
such was her public spirit, and the grateful sense she had of the
divine goodness, in giving victory over Israel's enemies, and
delivering them from them, with vengeance on them, she cared not
what was done to her; yea, desired that what was vowed might be
performed.