grieve for my death, since the people was delivered? Dost thou not
remember what happened in the day of our forefathers, when the
father offered his son as a burnt offering, and the son did not
refuse, but consented gladly, and the offerer and the offered were
both full of joy? Therefore, do as thou hast spoken. But before I
die I will ask a favor of thee. Grant me that I may go with my
companions upon the mountains, sojourn among the hills, and
tread upon the rocks to shed my tears and deposit there the grief
for my lost youth. The trees of the field shall weep for me, and the
beasts of the field mourn for me. I do not grieve for my death, nor
because I have to yield up my life, but because when my father
vowed his heedless vow, he did not have me in mind. I fear,
therefore, that I may not be an acceptable sacrifice, and that my
death shall be for nothing." Sheilah and her companions went forth
and told her case to the sages of the people, but none of them
could give her any help. Then she went up to Mount Telag, where
the Lord appeared to her at night, saying unto her: "I have closed
the mouth of the sages of my people in this generation, that they
cannot answer the daughter of Jephthah a word; that my vow be
fulfilled and nothing of what I have thought remain undone. I
know her to be wiser than her father, and all the wise men, and
now her soul shall be accepted at her request, and her death shall
be very precious before My face all the time." Sheilah began to
bewail her fate in these words: "Hearken, ye mountains, to my
lamentations, and ye hills, to the tears of my eyes, and ye rocks,
testify to the weeping of my soul. My words will go up to heaven,
and my tears will be written in the firmament. I have not been
granted the joy of wedding, nor was the wreath of my betrothal
completed. I have not been decked with ornaments, nor have I
been scented with myrrh and with aromatic perfumes. I have not