Circle of Johann Heinrich Schönfeld

The subject is taken from Judges, Book XI, verses 30-40. The great warrior Jephthah, was chosen to lead the Israelites to war against their foes, the Ammonites. To ensure victory over his enemies he vowed that if God granted him victory then he would sacrifice "the first creature that comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return". On his return from a victorious battle he was met by his only child, his daughter, whom he promptly executed.