The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and; unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Following the sale of Joseph into slavery, the seven years of promise and seven years of
famine, and the arrival of the family of Jacob into Egypt, Jacob was in Genesis 49 an old man who was preparing himself to die. He was saying goodbye to his family and offering blessings and promises to his descendants. And so it is quite interesting that out of all his sons that Judah was chosen to receive this most "interesting" of blessings/promises.
Judah was not Jacob's favorite and was not even his first born son. He was the fourth son of the wife that Jacob did not even want, Leah. He was responsible for the selling of Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:26-28). He committed adultery with his own daughter-in-law (Genesis 38). He was not the most honorable of men but now on Jacob's deathbed he is receiving this greatest of promises.

For in this verse (see also 49:8-12), the promise of authority and power is given to Judah and his descendants. But it is not only power that is promised but also the promise of "Shiloh." But just who or what is Shiloh?

Shiloh was the name of a town near Bethel that was destroyed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4) when the ark of the covenant was captured during the rule of the priest Eli. So the coming of Shiloh could not represent a town that was (a) destroyed and (b) a place where heathens were able to capture the ark of God.

Shiloh for some represents a period or ideal situation. Taken from the word "shalom" it connotes the idea of peace, satisfaction. And while I believe there is some truth in this idea, the question still must be asked, "How or through who does this peace come?"
So if Shiloh denotes a time of peace, what is the trigger for its arrival? Or perhaps a better question, "Who?" It must be someone who comes from the tribe of Judah. This person must also have a lineage which gives him the right to bear the scepter and to take on the responsibility of ruling for the people. It must also be someone who bears a priestly responsibility in relationship to the Law of God.

Obviously, I believe this person is Messiah Jesus. For he was descended from the tribe of Judah, in the lineage of David and is described as of the priestly order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7). But what is even more interesting are the Jewish scholars who also agree, while denying that it is Jesus, that this verse must be interpreted as a Messianic promise.
Isaac Troki who wrote an anti-Christian polemic in the sixteenth century (Faith Strengthened) viewed this passage as Messianic along with different Targums (translations) of the Jewish people. Rabbi Shelah, a third century rabbi, even stated, "Shiloh is his name, as it is said, ‘Until Shiloh come."

The debate over whether this passage is Messianic is rarely debated. The identity of Shiloh is quite another story. So let us then pray that His Chosen Ones realize who Shiloh is, sooner if not today.

Next Week ... Psalm 2