8. The subject here spoken of is “ Judah,” and that not as merely
268 THE PROMISED MESSIAH [EXERC. XII.
declaring the person of the fourth son of Jacob, but the tribe and family that sprang and was to spring from him. §o are the whole tribes everywhere called in Scripture by the name of him from whom they sprang, and that principally from the prophecy and blessing in this chapter, wherein the common stream of patriarchal blessing, hitherto running in one channel, is divided into twelve branches, each son of Jacob being constituted a distinct spring of benediction unto his posterity.
Now, that the tribe of Judah, and not his person, but only as from him the whole received its denomination, and as he is included ~ therein, is intended in this prophecy, is evident; for,—(1.) The things mentioned in this great patriarchal benediction were such as should befall the posterity of his children, to whom he spake, 5°30 NAS2 “in the latter days,” or “in the end of the days,” as were all the bless- ings of them that went before Jacob also. Now, that expression in general signally denotes the times of Messiah, as we shall afterwards declare, and as hath in part already been made manifest; and as it relates in particular unto any of the tribes, it denotes the whole continuance of their times until that season should be accomplished: so that it cannot be restrained unto the persons of any of them. (2.) Nothing that is spoken of any of the rest of the sons of Jacob belonged unto them personally; no, though it had its foundation in their persons, or in an allusion unto their personal actings. Thus the “dividing of Simeon and Levi in Jacob,” and the “scattering of them in Israel,” belonged not unto their persons, though what befell their posterity of that nature had a special eye unto their personal miscarriage, verses 5-7. Neither was any thing here spoken of Judah in any measure fulfilled in his person, who spent his days in Egypt, without any pre-eminence among his brethren, or rule with conquest and terror, like a lion, over others. It is then the family, tribe, or posterity of Judah, that by that name is here intended.
9. Now, this tribe of Judah may be considered either absolutely in itself, as it was in its separate stations and condition in the wilder- ness, without the mixture of any not of his posterity; or with re- spect unto that accession which was afterwards made unto it occa- sionally from the other tribes. And this was fourfold:—First, From the lot of Simeon falling within its lot in the first inheritance of the land, Josh. xix. 1; whence that tribe, though still keeping its distinct genealogy, was reckoned unto Judah, and became one people with them. Secondly, By the cleaving of the tribe of Benjamin, whose lot lay next unto it, and mixed with it in the very city of the king- dom, to the reigning house of David in the fatal division of the people, 1 Kings xii. 20, 21, 27; upon which both those tribes were afterward called by the name of “Judah,” verse 20, and the people of both O°"), “Judai,” or Jews. Thirdly, By the falling off of the tribe
SECT. 9, 10.] LONG SINCE COME. 269
of Levi unto it, with multitudes of other good men out of all the tribes of Israel, upon the idolatries and persecution of Jeroboam, 2 Chron. xi. 13-17; by which means that one tribe quickly became more numerous and potent than all the rest. Fourthly, By the mixture and addition of those great numbers which, out of all the tribes of Israel, joined themselves unto them upon their return from Babylon, and the restitution of the worship of God amongst them in its proper place. Now, it is Judah with all these accessions that is intended in this prophecy and benediction; yet so as that in many things,—as, namely, in the production of the Messiah,—the natural, genuine offspring of Judah was still to have the pre-eminence.
10. That which is foretold concerning this Judah is, that it should have 02Y and Pen, a “sceptre” and “law-giver,” or a writer of laws for others’ observation. That rule, power, and government, are hereby intended shall be afterwards evinced. What time this should come to pass is not limited; only, after it did so, it was not to cease until the Shiloh came. The foundation of the execution, then, of this promise, in the erection of polity and government in that tribe, was not laid until about six hundred and twenty years after this time. So certain is that which we before observed, that this: patriarchal benediction concerned not the persons of his sons and their then present condition, but that of their posterity in the latter days; and this was done when the kingdom was given to David, of the tribe of Judah. Neither is the kind of government or rule which should be erected in that tribe expressed in the words, only aruleand polity is promised unto it, or that they should be a people having the principle of rule or government in and among them- selves. Whilst they continued such, the sceptre and scribe departed not from them; and this they did, as with great variety in the out- ward form of government, though the law and polity amongst them were still the same, so not without some intercision of rule, until the time specified was accomplished. And where the law and polity are still the same, accidental alterations in the modes and manner of governing make no essential change in the state of the people or nature of the government, Thus the first constitution or rule in that tribe was in a way of government absolutely monarchical. This