Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah.
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
Genesis 49:10
Today’s verse is our third prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah. Jacob foretold that a descendant of Judah would be king. This first happened when David became king, but it was later fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah”
A scepter is a symbol of kingship. This means that a descendant of Judah will reign. The prophecy in Micah 5:2 is also talking about a Ruler from the tribe of Judah. This is a prophecy, first fulfilled in the kingship of David, and later on fulfilled by the birth of Jesus.
- Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
- Matthew 2:6: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”
“Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes;”
This means the one who has power to give the laws, another symbol of kingship. Shiloh is the Messiah. This is a difficult word to translate. Some translate it as ‘the Son’, as in ‘the Son of Judah’, others as ‘Giver of rest’. Whatever it means, it is without doubt talking about the Messiah who would one day come from the tribe of Judah. In the New Testament we read that Judah is one of the ancestors of Jesus.
- Matthew 1:2-3: “Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.”
- Luke 3:23: “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli”
- Luke 3:33: “The son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah”
“And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
Everyone will bow the knee before this King. People from all around the world will believe in Him, and they will reign with Him. Those who do not believe in Him and repent, and therefore remain without the forgiveness of their sins, will be judged.
- Revelation 7:9-10: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
- 2 Timothy 2:12: “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
- Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
- Revelation 21:7-8: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Today’s lesson: God remains true to His promises. The blessing of Jacob for Judah was a prophecy. Through the words of Jacob, God pointed out that the Saviour would be a King from the tribe of Judah.