Jephtha (HWV 70) is an oratorio (1751) by George Frideric Handel with an English language libretto by the Rev. Thomas Morell, based on the story of Jephtha in Judges (Chapter 11) and Jephthes sive votum (Jeptha or the Vow) (1554) by George Buchanan. Whilst writing Jephtha, Handel was increasingly troubled by his gradual loss of sight, and this proved to be his last oratorio. In the autograph score, at the end of the chorus "How dark, O Lord, are thy decrees" he wrote "Reached here on 13 February 1751, unable to go on owing to weakening of the sight of my left eye."

Librettist Thomas Morell
Date of composition 1751
Premiered 1752, February 26th (Covent Garden Theatre) in London, UK
Type Oratorio
Catalogue HWV 70
Spoken language English
Instruments Orchestra
Voice (Tenor) - Jephtha
Voice (Soprano) - Iphis, Jephtha's Daughter
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Storgè, Jephtha's wife
Voice (Bass) - Zebul, Jephtha's Brother
Voice (Countertenor) - Hamor, in love with Iphis
Voice (Soprano) - Angel
Chorus/Choir - israelites, priests, virgins
Links
Autotranslations beta Georg Friedrich Haendel: Jephtha, HWV 70
Georg Friedrich Händel: Jephtha, HWV 70
Georg Friedrich Händel: Jephtha, HWV 70