Judah Is a Lion’s Whelp (Genesis 49:8-12)

2023-01-07

One significant prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ is that He was to be from the Israelite tribe of Judah (Juda). King David was from that tribe, so that contributes to that prophecy. Long before him, Jacob prophesied of his 12 sons, the progenitors of the 12 tribes, of what would happen to them (i.e., their descendants) in the end times (Genesis 49:1).

Consider Genesis 49:8-12. Here are some observations, though I am not 100% sure on everything:

  1. The rest of Israel will praise Him. The name “Judah” is from the same root word as this word for “praise.” When Leah gave birth to Judah, we read, “And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing” (Genesis 29:35). How much do we praise the Son of God for delivering us from sin, Satan, and hell? (Genesis 49:8)
  2. He defeated His enemies. Jesus defeated death by rising again. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). He will defeat His enemies when He returns. “And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:21). (Genesis 49:8)
  3. He humbled Himself and was exalted. His couching and stooping down as a lion is one thing He did; His going up and being roused up is another thing. Our Lord voluntarily humbled Himself to the death of the cross, going into the lower parts of the earth, only to rise again and be exalted above all. This was how our Lord destroyed the enemy privily like a lion (Genesis 49:9)
  4. The kingly line came from Judah... The scepter is a symbol of authority. There was a continuous unbroken line of kings in the southern kingdom of Judah, unlike the northern kingdom of Israel, which changed dynasties every couple kings. (Genesis 49:10)
  5. ...until Shiloh comes. The word “Shiloh” is related to the word for “tranquility” and “safety.” The kingly line continued until our Lord Jesus came, who is the eternal King. (Genesis 49:10)
  6. He will gather the people together. Jesus said to the people of Jerusalem, “how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37). The future Day of Christ is when He will gather all His people together again. (Genesis 49:10)
  7. He will ride a donkey’s colt. Jesus was a king that came in peace. Judges Jair and Abdon had sons who rode these ass colts. These had judgeships of peace, but after their deaths, chaos and apostasy ensued. Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey with its colt in peace but was destroyed by the people. Though there is much tribulation for Christians in this life, He brings a lasting peace within. (Genesis 49:11)
  8. His blood cleanses. By the blood of Jesus, we are made clean (“blood of grapes”). We are made right with God because of Him. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). (Genesis 49:11)
  9. His life was marked with suffering. His eyes being red with wine, considering the previous verse, is His seeing His own blood being spilt, and maybe those who would die for His name’s sake. His teeth white with milk is likely a reference to His fasting and simple life He lived (Amos 4:6). (Genesis 49:12)

Revelation 5:5 tells us that this passage in the Old Testament refers to Jesus Christ: “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Where no one else was able to open the book to initiate the final week of Daniel, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lion who became a Lamb, was able to do so.