Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/621

 8. Thee] The emphasis on the pron. (see G-K. § 135 e) is explained by the contrast to the preceding oracles: at last the singer comes to a tribe which he can unreservedly praise. Nowhere else does the poem breathe such glowing enthusiasm and such elevation of feeling as here. The glories of Judah are celebrated in four aspects: (1) as the premier tribe of Israel, $8$; (2) as the puissant and victorious lion-*tribe, $9$; (3) as the bearer (in some sense) of the Messianic hope, $10$; (4) as lavishly endowed with the blessings of nature, $11f.$.—] The same fanciful etymology as in 29$35$.—thy hand foes] The image seems to be that of a defeated enemy, caught by the (back of the) neck in his flight, and crushed (Ex. 23$27$, Ps. 18$41$, Jb. 16$12$).—thy brethren thy father's sons] The other tribes, who acknowledge the primacy of Judah.—9. A vivid picture of the growth of Judah's power; to be compared with the beautiful lyric, Ezk. 19$2-9$.—a lion's whelp] So Dt. 33$22$ (of Dan). The image naturally suggests the 'mighty youth' of the tribe, as its full development is represented by the lion, and old lion of the following lines. Hence the cl. — is rendered by some (Gu. al.): On prey, my son, thou hast grown up (been reared), which is perhaps justified by Ezk. 19$3$. But it is better to understand it of the lion's ascent, after a raid, to his mountain fastness, where he rests in unassailable security ($9b$).—he crouches, etc.] So (of Israel as a whole) Nu. 24$9$.—10a. Judah's political pre-eminence.—sceptre staff] The latter word  might be used personally =

8. ] [E]G —9. ] G, taking the word as in 8$11$, Ezk. 17$9$.—] G, S. The common rendering 'lioness' is based on Arab., but it is by no means certain that in Heb. the word denotes specially the female. It is never construed as fem.; and in Ezk. 19$2$ the pointing shows that the Massoretes considered as masc.—10a. and  are found together in Ju. 5$14$, where has the personal sense of 'commander.' But in Nu. 21$18$, Ps. 60$9$ [= 108$9$] it denotes the commander's staff; and since is always the instrument, the impersonal sense is to be preferred here: hence the of G is wrong, and the personal renderings of  in all Vns. at least doubtful.—] [E], 'from between his banners,' gives no sense. GΘV interpret after Dt. 28$57$ 'from his