Genesis 49:8-12

Judah. Judah possessed a lion-like nature. As such he became the leader of the other tribes (Genesis 43:3-10; Judges 1:1-2; Judges 3:9; Judges 20:18; etc.). Through him came David and then Messiah, "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5). Judah led the other tribes in the march through the wilderness (Numbers 2:1-3) and in the monarchy.

The scepter (Genesis 49:10) was and is the symbol of royal command, the right to rule. Judah was to exercise leadership among the tribes until Shiloh came at which time Shiloh would extend Judah’s rule to worldwide dominion. Judah’s leadership was not consistently preeminent in the history of Israel, however.

Shiloh (lit. the "bearer of rest") is a proper name. It refers here not to the city in Canaan of that name but to a person who would arise in the tribe of Judah and bring peace to the world, namely, Messiah (cf. Genesis 3:15; Numbers 24:17). We should probably translate it "whose it (the ruler’s staff) is" or "to whom it belongs" rather than transliterate it "Shiloh" (cf. Ezekiel 21:26-27). [Note: See Eugene H. Merrill, "Rashi, Nicholas de Lyra, and Christian Exegesis," Westminster Theological Journal 38 (1975):74-75.] Another live translation option is "until tribute is brought to him." [Note: Wenham, Genesis 16-50, p. 478. See Mathews, Genesis 11:27-50:26, pp. 892-97, for an extended discussion of the interpretive possibilities.]

"Whichever of these interpretations is adopted, . . . all at least agree that this line is predicting the rise of the Davidic monarchy and the establishment of the Israelite empire, if not the coming of a greater David. And if the primary reference is to David, traditional Jewish and Christian exegetes would agree that like other Davidic promises it has a greater fulfillment in the Messiah." [Note: Wenham, Genesis 16-50, p. 478.]

Because Reuben, Simeon, and Levi had disqualified themselves, Judah received the leadership of the tribes and the blessing that normally went to the first-born. This is how the leadership of the tribes and the Messianic line fell to Judah. Jacob evidently forgave Judah’s earlier sins because he repented and later sacrificed himself for Jacob’s wellbeing.

Everything after the word "until" (Genesis 49:10) describes millennial conditions.

"No Judean would tie his ass to a vine [Genesis 49:11], for it would be eaten up, of course. Anyone who can be so careless and who can wash his garments in wine, lives in paradisiacal abundance." [Note: von Rad, p. 425.]

"The sense of the imagery is that wine, the symbol of prosperity and blessing, will be so plentiful that even the choicest vines will be put to such everyday use as tethering the animals of burden and vintage wine will be as commonplace as wash water. Genesis 49:12 returns to the picture of the king of Judah. His eyes are darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk. He is a picture of strength and power." [Note: Sailhamer, "Genesis," p. 277.]

This prophecy is the first of many that follow in the Old Testament that associates bumper crops with the golden age of future blessing.