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..—(
Hebrew characters)] The same fanciful etymology as in
2935.—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. 2327, Ps. 1841, Jb. 1612).—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. 192-9.—a lion's whelp] So Dt. 3322 (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. (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters) is rendered
by some (Gu. al.): On prey, my son, thou hast grown up
(been reared), which is perhaps justified by Ezk. 193. 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. 249.—10a. Judah's political pre-eminence.—sceptre . . . staff] The latter word ((Hebrew characters)) might be used personally =
8. (Hebrew characters)] [E]G (Hebrew characters)—9. (Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters), taking the word as in 811,
Ezk. 179.—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters), S (Syriac characters). 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. 192 the pointing (Hebrew characters) shows that the Massoretes considered
(Hebrew characters) as masc.—10a. (Hebrew characters) and (Hebrew characters) are found together in Ju. 514, where
(Hebrew characters) ( (Hebrew characters)) has the personal sense of 'commander.' But in Nu. 2118,
Ps. 609 [= 1089] it denotes the commander's staff; and since (Hebrew characters) is
always the instrument, the impersonal sense is to be preferred here:
hence the (Greek characters) of G is wrong, and the personal renderings of (Hebrew characters) in
all Vns. at least doubtful.—(Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters), 'from between his
banners,' gives no sense. GΘV interpret after Dt. 2857 'from his
