Seila (died 1188 BC) was an Israelite girl and the daughter of the judge Jephthah. In 1188 BC, before going off to battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah swore an oath to God that he would sacrifice the first thing that left his house as a burnt offering in exchange for victory. On his triumphant return home, Jephthah was greeted by his daughter, who was dancing and playing the tambourine, and he was forced to sacrifice her as a burnt offering. Seila persuaded her father to let her mourn her virginity for two months before she agreed to let him kill her to fulfill his vows. Her death came to be seen as God's warning against making vows with poor judgment.