Judges 11:1

Now Jephthah - was the son of a harlot - I think the word זונה zonah , which we here render harlot, should be translated, as is contended for on Joshua 2:1 ; (note), viz. a hostess, keeper of an inn or tavern for the accommodation of travelers; and thus it is understood by the Targum of Jonathan on this place: פונדקיתא אתתא בר והוא vehu bar ittetha pundekitha , "and he was the son of a woman, a tavern keeper." She was very probably a Canaanite, as she is called, Judges 11:2 , a strange woman, אחרת אשה ishshah achereth , a woman of another race; and on this account his brethren drove him from the family, as he could not have a full right to the inheritance, his mother not being an Israelite.