And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman. (Judges 11:2)
Literally, “another woman.” Either it may merely mean another woman who was not a legal wife, or it may bear also the added connotation that she was of an alien race.
Thrust out Jephthah.
After the legitimate sons grew up, and perhaps after the death of the father, they drove Jephthah from the home, refusing to allow him any part of the inheritance even though the father, by bringing Jephthah to the home, apparently showed his intention of regarding the child as a son. The attitude of these brothers was probably in harmony with family laws and traditions of the time, which may have found support in a rigorous interpretation of the law of Moses (Deut. 23:2, 3).
Gilead’s wife.
This was his lawful wife, by whom subsequently he had a number of sons.