he said[1] to his brethren: “God will visit you[2] 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[3] with you out of this place." He then died, and they embalmed him and laid him in a coffin (Fig. 18).
COMMENTARY.
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.
