Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/161

 he said  to  his  brethren:  “God  will  visit  you  after  my  death, and will  make  you  go  up  out  of  this  land,  to  the  land  which he swore  to  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob. Carry my  bones  with you out  of  this  place."  He  then  died,  and  they  embalmed  him and  laid  him  in  a coffin  (Fig.  18).

The fifth  promise  of  the  Messias. Jacob’s dying  prophecy  treated, firstly, of  Juda’s  precedence  over  his  brethren,  and  secondly,  of  the coming of  the  Redeemer. Both prophecies  have  been  fulfilled. Even in the  time  of  Moses,  the  tribe  of  Juda  was  the  most  numerous  of  the twelve. To this  tribe  belonged  the  royal  race  of  David;  and  with  it remained  the  capital,  Jerusalem,  with  the  Temple  and  the  High-Priest.



After the  Babylonian  captivity,  this  tribe  gave  its  name  to  the  whole nation, all  its  people  being  thenceforward  known  by  the  name  of  Jews. Finally, from  the  tribe  of  Juda  sprang  the  Messias  (Hebr.  7,  14),  to whom  the  second  part  of  Jacob’s  prophecy  refers. In this  wonderful prophecy, uttered  1900  years  B.  C.,  the  very  time  of  our  Lord’s  coming was foretold,  namely  that  in  which  the  dominion  of  Juda  should  cease. This came  to  pass  exactly  as  foretold,  for,  at  the  time  of  our  Lord’s birth, the  foreigner,  Herod,  placed  as  king  over  the  subjected  people, ruled in  Judaea. Jacob also  prophesied  that  the  Redeemer  would  be expected  by  all  nations,  i.  e.  that  not  only  the  children  of  Abraham, but all  the  nations  would  be  looking  for  Him. This also  came  to  pass.