Judah

Let’s think about Judah’s life prior to this blessing.

Fourth son of Leah

Broke his promise/obligation to Tamar (the widow of his son), and then commited adultery to her - leaving a scepter as his pledge - he acknowledged that she was more righteous that he was (Gen. 38)

Promised to do what he could to bring all of the family back after the second trip to Egypt - after Jacob refused to hear Reuben’s promise (Gen. 43:1-10)

Pleaded to Joseph for Benjamin to bring him back to Jacob (Gen. 44:14-34)

Now - Jacob provides Judah with the second largest blessing. he’s not given the birthright - that’s given to Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh.

As we read this - make a mental note of what jumps out at you. Consider the animal references and other symbols.

Genesis 49:8–12 ESV

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

Judah’s Supremacy (8)

Interesting play on words:

Judah - jehuda

praise - yokuda

“tricolon” - three parallel lines - “rhetorical scheme in which parallel elements possess the same number of words or syllables” (Dictionary - Wikipedia)

brothers - praise him

enemies - submit or are ruled by him

brothers - bow down

This seems to suggest the supremacy of Judah over his brothers and the enemies - implying a future ruling relationship.

Judah’s Success (9)

described as a lion (which was a symbol of royalty in their day) - uses three of seven different Hebrew words for lion - young lion (cub), mature lion, and lioness.

Seems to suggest some sort of military might/victory

Judah’s Scepter (10)

possible double entendre - both ruling scepter and a nod back to his acts with Tamar - though the rest of the verse points to his ruling role in the nation

He will have a permanence of authority - even though the first king will be from Benjamin, the remaining will be from Judah - of course the Messiah (eternal King) is from Judah

Until tribute comes to him; until shiloh comes; until he comes to whom it belongs

The NET Bible

There are at least four major options (with many variations and less likely alternatives): (1) Some prefer to leave the text as it is, reading “Shiloh” and understanding it as the place where the ark rested for a while in the time of the Judges. (2) By repointing the text others arrive at the translation “until the [or “his”] ruler comes,” a reference to a Davidic ruler or the Messiah. (3) Another possibility that does not require emendation of the consonantal text, but only repointing, is “until tribute is brought to him” (so NEB, JPS, NRSV), which has the advantage of providing good parallelism with the following line, “the nations will obey him.” (4) The interpretation followed in the present translation, “to whom it [belongs]” (so RSV, NIV, REB), is based on the ancient versions. Again, this would refer to the Davidic dynasty or, ultimately, to the Messiah.

again - foreshadowing a messianic authority/anointing

Judah’s Prosperity (11-12)

a vine large enough to both secure a donkey and not be diminished by the donkey’s eating - suggests that Judah will be quite prosperous.

So wealthy that he will wash his garments in wine - purple/royal?

Ultimately - through the messiah - because all nations will be blessed - salvation secured through Jesus will wash people from the stain of their sin

In light of this “blessing” or prophecy for Judah - what should we pray - for us, for our community, for our world, for the mission team?