Genesis #26 Ch. 49 Israel's Prophecy — Chuck Missler

Welcome to the 26th study in the book of Genesis conducted by Chuck Missler the subject of this tape Genesis chapter 49. And let's open with a word prayer.

Heavenly Father. We just praise you and Thank you for this evening the opportunity to gather in the name of Jesus Christ. Seeking the anointing of your Holy Spirit to just open our hearts and minds To those insights that you have for us father.

We would ask for an increased appetite tonight for these Secret treasures that you've hidden in secret places for our learning. Father we rejoice that whatsoever things were written before time were written for our learning that we through the patience And the comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

We would ask you this night father to behold Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen. By way of background. We obviously are concluding a study in the book of Genesis. We've been at it some several evenings.

We've gone from Genesis 1 1 in the beginning God Elohim. All the way through the end of chapter 50 which closes in a coffin in Egypt. But we've separated one chapter just to take it apart tonight chapter 49.

Genesis 49 as Prophecy

Which we skipped before and we're going to focus on tonight because it's an unusual chapter. We've been interested in the book of Genesis specifically as a book of prophecy and I think we have touched upon Many many ways that the book of Genesis is prophetic.

Prophetic in the sense that it has in view God's entire plan for man from the creation in the early chapters all the way. To the climax that we normally associate with the book of Revelation. Book of Genesis is full of prophecy the overview of God's plan for man.

And we've seen that manifested many many ways we've seen that manifested in what we sometimes call Typology or modeling where a story or an episode overshadows a future broader construct of the What God is doing?

We've also seen that very specifically where God has given specific prophecies or promises to his His own. Tonight, we're going to see a rather unusual chapter. That is prophecy in the more conventional sense somewhat cryptic little messages concatenated in the mouth of Jacob or Israel.

It's got changed his name in a specific context and we're going to use this as a springboard to look at some similar passages on the on the subject. Let's jump in with Genesis chapter 49 and We're going to where our central focus tonight is chapter 49 in its entirety.

Genesis chapter 49 verse 1 and Jacob called unto his sons. How many sons were there? 13 very good. Well, you could really say 14 because there's Joseph and his two grands his two sons Jacob's grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim.

Which he adopted? So actually there's 14 people Around Jacob's deathbed. He's taken charge and he called him to his sons. That is his 12 plus the two sons of Joseph and Said gather yourselves together that I may tell you that which may befall you when?

In the last days, that's an interesting phrase very very fascinating phrase the word For last days is used also in Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 and Ezekiel 38 verse 16. To give you just a couple of many references which caused that phrase the last days to be treated Relatively specifically by students of prophecy meaning the end times.

Candidly the term last days embraces the first coming of the Messiah in some passages. Certainly is almost always used of a second coming and so the scope of what Jacob is talking about here is far more than simply an Old-testament perspective of the twelve tribes.

It's more than that. In fact, let me remind you before we jump in what we learned last time in Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11 that passage that is a chronicle of the major Milestones of faith sometimes called the hall of faith makes reference to Jacob in verse 21 and It's illuminating.

I think to look back from the vantage point of the writer to Hebrews back on the Old Testament and of all the things that the writer might pick of Jacob he picks really. One thing there's one episode of Jacob's life that the writer highlights in this incredible chronicle of Of the faithful verse 21.

It says by faith Jacob When he was dying Blessed both the sons of Joseph and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff. He recounts the the Blessing of the sons of Joseph we read we talked about that last time Ephraim and Manasseh.

But he also worshipped leaning on the top of his staff. What is he referring to in terms of worshipping? And I submit to you as Genesis 49 and we're going to get a an insight. Maybe a little one maybe a deep one depending on just what kind of worship where we have in view here Genesis 49 Jacob calling all his sons together Around his deathbed.

There's an implied contradiction because on the one hand we view this being in his dying deathbed and yet he was leaning on his staff so you can Consider that a problem if you like or you can visualize what he might have been doing in any case.

That I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days gather yourselves together and hear ye sons of who Jacob and Harkonnen to Israel your father. Now we've been tuned by now to be sensitive to which name he uses.

It's the only person in the Old Testament where the new name is alternated in all the other cases as we pointed out when a new name was given Abraham to Abraham and Sarah I to Sarah and So forth that it's always the new name that supersedes the old you never hear the old one again.

But Jacob's an exception or most of the time. It's Jacob. Here on his deathbed he is using the name Israel by the Holy Spirit. So we I think can take at least some comfort in the sense that he's walking.

He's talking speaking of in the spirit the word Jacob means what implies what spiritually here son of Adam and The sense of the two natures the flesh and the spirit. Okay. Or the first Adam and last Adam if you want to look at it that way that's probably a an odd phrase to use of Genesis, but nevertheless.

Where were his sons. Spiritually in the flesh ye sons of Jacob listen to Israel your father. That one phrase starts to position what's happening now. He goes up into a series of verses that are Rather cryptic.

Reuben’s Lost Birthright

Verse 3 he starts with Reuben. Why would he start with Reuben? Firstborn you bet. I'm tempted to read through the chapter and then come back to Reuben. But we might run out of you know then take him one at a time.

We might I think I'll proceed on the presumption you've done your homework and read chapter 49. So you have a an overview if not you'll certainly get it as we go through it. I item by item. Let's take Reuben and and see what he said about Reuben.

Verse 3. Reuben thou art my firstborn my might and the beginning of my strength. The X's excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water thou shalt not excel. Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed then defilest thou it.

He went up to my couch. And he goes on then to talk about Simeon Levi. Now you look at that and some of that you can sort of recognize. And some of it you can. First of all why would he be how why would he focus on on Reuben the beginning of my strength the firstborn?

Okay Reuben had Originally the claim to the natural birthright, what is the birthright. Double portion? Rulership over the house when the father's gone he's the priest of the high priest of the family and.

So forth we covered that before and talk about the birthright by way of recollection. However, we discover that Reuben forfeited the birthright through his conduct in Defiling his father's bed. We might turn to 1st Chronicles chapter 5 verse 1 and 2.

We're in 1st Chronicles chapter 5 first two verses it reads now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Parenthesis. For he was the firstborn but for as much as he defiled his father's bed his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph.

By the way, I might caution you don't confuse Joseph and Judah in terms of their Legacy if you will the firstborn the right to the firstborn fell upon Joseph. The son of Israel and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

For Judah prevailed above his brethren and of him came the prince. Then I get it by the way. It's the same word that occurs in Daniel chapter 9 verse 24. You know 69 weeks from shall go from the commandment to restore to build Jerusalem unto the night.

Eat. I'm a sheikh Naguib. But the birthright was Joseph's. So don't don't misunderstand the royal line. Devolves through Judah and we'll talk about Judah shortly. The birthright was Joseph's. The birthright involved the double portion the double portion.

Being very convenient because in the adoption of Joseph's two sons by Jacob Ephraim and Manasseh, there's a portion for each. Okay. So that really gives you 13 tribes. 13 tribes the tribe of Joseph you can think of is split into two Ephraim and Manasseh and since Joseph was entitled to the double portion by being the successor to the birthright.

You have really 13 portions divided into 13 tribes. And as I've mentioned before unless you someone points that out to you. You can spend a lot of time trying to figure out how you can always get a list of 12 tribes.

Independently whether or not you're counting Levi or Dan or what-have-you. It seems very convenient can always leave out one tribe and still get 12 and you don't Reconcile it until you realize fundamentally there are not 12 tribes.

There are 13 in effect. Okay, first Chronicles 5 1 and 2 is a good summary of the relationship of Reuben and. Okay Reuben was the firstborn son by nature. We can infer that it was through pride that he he blew it by aspiring to and taking if you will literally his father's place and in so doing fell now.

Jacob really points out three things. The fact that he had he was heir to the natural birthright. But secondly that he forfeited that birthright and we've seen that in first Chronicles 5 2, but he makes a Oh.

He meant he mentions here that thou shalt not excel. And I think it's significant to point out in contrast to all the other tribes Reuben is the source of no judge in the book of Judges. He is the source of no king in Israel, and he is the source of no prophet in Israel.

So he did not excel. He did not excel in some other ways when they came through the wilderness and were entering Canaan the promised land in Numbers 32 approximately and also recorded in Josh in in in Judges 5 and numbers 32.

I think I should be Joshua 5. I may have jotted it down wrong in any case with Gad. Reuben and Gad settled on the wilderness side of the Jordan so they didn't enter the promised land. They settled on the wilderness side of the of the Jordan.

Reuben taking the southernmost portion on the east side and. That you know leads them to be easily exposed to attack and a source of all kinds of future problems. Now a Third comment that Jacob implies here.

He says that you are as unstable as water and you and I might draw to a jump to a lot of conclusions as to. What is really mean meant by that phrase in fact all the way through here? Scholars are divided as to what the real root translation implied because they're pastoral Examples and what it means to them and what means as a different the unstable as water.

Seems to imply it's unstable as water in the sense of the drying up of a summer stream. If you're used to living on the land as a shepherd or a nomadic tribe. There were frequently streams that were there in the spring from the runoff, but they dry in the summer.

So some water some sources of water are unstable. They're there. They're not there when you need them and the phrase that the Hebrew phase that pointing to the unstable water implies that they're evaporating or they're they're they're they're weakening or that they're Not not there when you need them.

Comparing Genesis 49 with Deuteronomy 33

Or one other thing I'd like to do here. There's another occasion of a similar passage here. We have Genesis 49 where we have a prophecy by Jacob about his 12 sons. Describing what their tribes are going to be like and what will befall them in the last days.

There's another passage in the scripture very similar to this the occasion is Moses. Sometimes called the song of Moses the blessing of Moses in Deuteronomy 33. If you think of Genesis 49 you should think as a student of the scripture about Deuteronomy 33.

Let's turn to Deuteronomy 33 and we'll play. Sort of ping-pong or and we'll go antiphonally between these two chapters to get an insight into the twelve tribes as we go and Deuteronomy 33 and I suggest as we go back.

We might keep a marker or a finger in this portion because we'll try to remember to pop in here for each tribe. But Deuteronomy 33 verse 1 starts and this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel.

Before his death here again just as Jacob was giving the prophecy or blessings over his 12 sons. Moses likewise just before his death commented on each of the 12 tribes. In this case he said and they're in a different order here.

I believe but let's just skim through it here and it says. And he said the Lord came from Sinai and rose up from seer to them and he shined forth from Mount Paran and he came With ten thousands of his saints and from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Yea. He loved the people all his saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet. Everyone shall receive of thy words. Moses commanded us a law even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob and he was king in Jeshuron.

When the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel gathered together. First six. Let Reuben live and not die. Okay, and Let not his men be few now that not is added there's a grammatical question there is whether let his men be few or let his men not be few and.

Then he goes on with Jude and something. Let's leave the others for later. So both here in Deuteronomy 33 in Genesis 49. We have comments about Reuben and in In in particularly in Jacob's case, he points out that he won't excel and he implies that he will be unstable as water that is it, you know disappear and.

One of the translations of the Deuteronomy 33 passage. It implies it is let his men be few now. What's interesting is if we if we were to take the trouble to look at the two senses. There was two numberings of the people one and numbers one Book of Numbers 1 verse 21.

We discover that Reuben was 46 ,500 not one of the largest but more importantly in numbers 26 verse 7 is numbering he reduced to 43 ,730 so we see Reuben on the decrease. We see Reuben not excel in some other ways in Deuteronomy 27 when they some of the tribes went on Mount Ebal to curse and others went on men garrison to bless.

Guess where Reuben was. Yes, you're right. Now because of his Reuben's position east of the Jordan. You'll discover if you'd go through first Chronicles 26 and second Kings 10. That when there was a tax on the land by enemies one of the first places to get hit.

Or where God would thus bring judgment would be guess where? Reuben and In the notes, there are plenty other verses. I'll let you run with that in terms of going further. Let's move on to the next one the next tribe in Genesis 49.

Simeon and Levi: Vengeance, Scattering, and Grace

We're down at verse 5 and Verse 5 6 7. Jacob in his case speaks of two tribes together. He lumps in his discussion Simeon and Levi. Simeon and Levi he's taking them incidentally in their natural order.

Simeon and Levi that is so far. He's taking them in their natural order. Simeon and Levi are brethren. Verse 5 instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. Why would he say that? Who were the two characters that?

Brought vengeance for the rape of their sister Dinah and the men of Shechem remember that. So Jacob apparently has in his mind here This brutal cruel reaction that both Levi and Simeon Brought upon The men of Shechem that was in Genesis 34 if you recall your note.

You can go back on your own to dig into that and refresh your memory of that now. It says oh my soul come not thou into their secret. Unto their assembly mine honor be not thou United for in their anger.

They slew a man and in their self-will the hamstrung oxen Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruel. Now all its qualitative Summary, right? Here's the prophecy. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Okay, I might comment on a couple of things the cruelty thing. I think it's pretty clear. By coming at something else. This is relatively a derogatory passage, right if I Like it what's interesting about this is the the book was of Genesis was written by whom?

And of what tribe was he? Levi right on it was written by Moses of Levi and it's a subtle evidence of inspiration that this adverse Passage is about the tribe. He's from Nothing good said all adverse kind of interesting.

Might also mention just as background the belief at least that Simeon was the ringleader. Concerning the mischief About Joseph now when Joseph and his the the brethren assembled and threw him in the pit.

We don't know from that text. Who was the ringleader? The fact that Simeon was is a possibility. He was a in effect second heir the Reuben was yeah, you know, you remember that well point is it when Joseph later Plays his little game if you will with them in chapter 42 verse 24, which of the 12 does he bind?

Simeon and so to the extent you visualize a modeling by Joseph of the history of his being Sold in the slavery you could draw the conclusion that Simeon was the ringleader. That's inferential and something you can Accept to reject as you feel comfortable with.

Clearly Simeon was pretty tough guy. Judah calls on Simeon in Judges chapter 1 verse 3 when Judah is looking for assistance in Securing his position in Canaan. He calls upon Simeon. That's reasonable because Simeon apparently was pretty fierce and cruel tough bunch.

It also was he was relatively co-located co-co Allocated as far as the territory is concerned. Same thing occurs in 1st Chronicles 4. Judah seek he looks to Simeon for help. That's a very interesting thing.

We could turn to Deuteronomy 33 except we discovered Simeon's omitted. Simeon is omitted from Deuteronomy 20 to 33. Simeon is also the weakest of all the tribes in the numbering of numbers. The second census the numbering of number 26 and.

There's very little heard of Simeon later. Yeah from the time of King Asa on you so don't see him mentioned. Now how was Simeon scattered in Israel? Very directly when the land was allocated Simeon simply got a portion of Judah's allocation.

He didn't have a clear distinct. That's why when the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom have their civil war. They speak of the southern kingdom as Judah it embraced Simeon, but he was sort of a also ran if you will.

Simeon was scattered and divided in that sense. Now what makes this. And for the authority on that we could take the time. But let's not if you were Simeon's does not really get a separate territory. But gets a portion of the Alec territory allocated Judah.

You'll find that in Joshua chapter 19 first eight verses and you can also find if you're interested in the allocation of the tribes get the Joshua tapes or the Joshua your notes and so. And you can track through in in the conquest of Canaan under Joshua how the land is divided.

Let's before we move on recognize. We've really got two tribes here. Simeon in effect carries this curse. There's another tribe Levi that's lumped in here with him. Levi's history is a little different than Simeon's first of all in Exodus chapter 32 Moses calls for a show of you know Assistance and which tried rallies with Moses.

Make a guess. Levi Exodus 32 verses 27 28 your reference there. There's another occasion That we might well turn to numbers 25 Again where the tribe of Levi accredits itself with an act that turns out to be very important in terms of its future history.

Numbers 25. Let's pick it up about verse 6. Behold one of the children of Israel came and brought into his brethren a Midianite ish woman in the sight of Moses in the sight of all the congregation of Israel.

Who are weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and when Phineas the son of Eliezer the son of Aaron the priest? Who is Phineas what tribe is he in? Levi right. Saw it he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand.

And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through the man of Israel and the woman through her abdomen so the plague was stayed from the children of Israel and Those that died the plague were 24 ,000.

And Lord spoke unto Moses saying Phineas the son of Eliezer the son of Aaron the priest hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel While he was zealous for my sake among them. That I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Wherefore say behold I give unto him my covenant of peace and He shall have it and his seed after him even a covenant of an everlasting priesthood. Because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

Then it goes on okay, kind of an interesting passage and. So it's interesting we find in the Passage in Genesis 49 that Levi is is coupled or yoked with Simeon by Virtue of the previous cruelty he appears to be spared by the Lord by grace through the actions of one Phineas, so Now as far as being divided and scattered.

We know I mentioned Simeon of course was divided in the sense. They didn't you got a sub portion of Judas the Levites were scattered in what sense who can remember the Joshua study? They got cities not territories as in Jeff.

You'll find cute little maps in the back to your Bibles of the territories 12 tribes. I should caution you that the the traditional territories are there some debate of exactly where the boundaries are so those are estimates really but clearly 11 of the 12 tribes got Geographic territories contiguous territories that belong to them, but there's one tribe that did not their inheritance was not the land it was what?

No. What was the inheritance of the Levites the Lord. You remember that passage is the Lord says I am your inheritance. But they did get in lieu of traditional inheritance 48 cities 48 cities. Scattered throughout the entire land.

In other words they were scattered among the 12 tribes in terms of the cities. But there's a sort of a distinction between the title in the city and just having a city allocated to them. They didn't inherit the land they inherited the Lord and their primary thing was the custodianship of the tabernacle and the the the priesthood and You can find that whole thing of the 48 cities and numbers 35 a Joshua 14 for and Joshua 21 Book of Joshua makes a big thing of that and talks about the whole concept of the cities for the Levites and also the cities of refuge.

Which is a whole nother subject that? Okay now now we get to perhaps one of the most important clearly one of the most important tribes. We've gone through Ruben Simeon and Levi now we get to the fourth in succession up till now.

We're in the natural order. Leia's sons right sons by Leia. The first four natural sons and the next one in line is Judah. The first thing we'll notice about Judah is that we get a great deal about Judah not just a little cryptic verse or two and.

Judah’s Royal and Messianic Prophecy

Well, let's just take a good look at it. Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. Was the name Judah mean Praise so there's sort of a pun or a word player.

Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. Thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Now that's a very strange mystery because he was not the firstborn nor did the right of the firstborn.

Devolved to Judah it devolved to Joseph. So why should his father's children bow down to Judah? We don't really understand that. Conceptually at least we don't understand till we see David King of Israel, okay.

But it goes far beyond David as well shortly since. My father's children shall bow down before thee. Verse 9. Judah is a lion's well. From the prey my son thou art gone up. He stooped down. He crouched as a lion and as an old lion and who shall rouse him up.

The scepter 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. Binding his foal unto the vine and his asses colt unto the choice vine.

He washed his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall be red with wine and his teeth white with milk. Now I should mention That to really study this passage all these passages properly.

We should spend more time and really get into the original language and see some of the alternate renderings in the english. And that takes a lot of time. It gets very dry and dull and and so i'll try to Avoid that because it gets as I say pretty dull on the other hand.

You should just recognize that the actual structure of the language Is a best case from many alternate alternate runnings from the from the roots that are involved. So Um could just be sensitive to that now, uh.

Let's turn to first we just looked at first chronicles five. Let's take a passage again. That's what it mentions of judah. They mentioned that was the passage we looked at with respect to the sons of ruben and joseph and so forth right.

First chronicles 5 1 and 2 we just read but verse 2 again for judah prevailed above his brethren and of him came the Nagid Nagid the prince the chief ruler. In daniel chapter 9 and in the 70-week prophecy of the daniel.

The angel gabriel in response to daniel's prayer comes to him and gives him a prophecy Which predicts the coming of the messiah to the nation israel? He says 77s. Are determined upon thy people upon thy holy city to do those six things.

And Uh from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build jerusalem unto the messiah nagid the messiah the prince. Will be 69 weeks and so forth. And that same word is used here. Okay. There's another passage that describes The fact there are many passages described that the messiah will come out of judah.

But one of them is perhaps not obvious, but you all know very well, that's micah 5 2. What does micah 5 2 say? But ethel bethlehem ephratah though thou be littlest among the thousands of judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me.

That is to be ruler in israel whose goings forth have been from old from everlasting. If he comes out of bethlehem, what tribe would he be in? Judah, it's more specifically what house would he be in house of david.

Absolutely. And we could go on and this just opens the door to go into a whole bunch of the messianic Prophecies, but I think that's a task i'll leave up to you. Certainly judah has dominion. He has specific dominion in the sense of the the house of david the the king david's throne.

And all the prophecies that focus on that throne enduring forever and um. And that's a strange contradiction because we're going to find out that the messiah that the rulership of judah uh Will not end until the messiah appears.

Once the messiah appears the rulership of david evaporates the ability to trace yourself to the house of david is not possible today. Which means if you're going to re-establish the throne of david you got a little genealogical problem um.

There's also some scholars make a big thing out of the lion that there's a welt it's in three phases. There's a lot there's a welt that is a young lion a regular lion and an old lion and some. Try to structure that into a history of you know from joshua to saul and then david and solomon onward and so forth but that I think I can't see a lot of Validity of that idea.

I throw it out for what it's worth. Certainly the most fascinating of the passages here is verse 10. Many people who study nothing of genesis 49 love to quote verse 10. And we could spend all evening trying to tear apart its grammatical subtleties.

But anyway The scepter shall not depart from judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet until shiloh come and the word shiloh. Is that got a lot of study and there's a lot of controversy among the scholars.

But the net of it is. Is that the word is has been deemed messianic by some of the most ancient rabbinical sources. It really means He who's right it is. And the word itself, uh is is generally regarded by most scholars to be clearly messianic and unto him shall the gathering of the people be now.

There is a uh an aspect of this that's uh Rather interesting and we find this recorded primarily in josephus but If you recall after the captivities There was the the maccabean princes rule judah. They were of course from the tribe of levi.

But they weren't jewish kings. They were the last of the jewish kings. After them came herod. Was herod jewish. Where was he? Idiom man from the tribe of from the the background of the edomites. Idiom man is just another way of saying an edomite if you will.

It turns out that there was a series of events. One is that led to the deposition of archelaus and the high priest I think was coponius at which time incidentally the capital the right to capital punishment was relieved from the the jewish or you know structure.

And what they actually did? Approximately we're not sure the exact date but approximately 7 a .d. Is the high priests went through the city of jerusalem wearing sackcloth and ashes? And what they did is they said?

According to the babylonian talmud Woe unto us for the scepter has been taken from judah and shiloh has not come now judah here being the geography. That's you know, the ruling jerusalem is in the area of judah.

The scepter has been taken from judah and shiloh has not come. The implication of that lament is their is testimony to their conviction that the word of the lord had been broken because of genesis 49 10.

That the scepter had departed from judah and shiloh that is the messiah had not come. What they did not know apparently is that a carpenter's son was probably about the age of 12 in nazareth. Some people link that event with perhaps the occasion that the young boy Was taken to the temple and disappeared from his parents.

And of course they went back and found him. And he rebuked them saying that they should have expected him to be there. Now that may be very valid it may be just You know one of those things i'll leave it up to you, but it's an interesting interesting insight that approximately at that time according to the both the Babylonian talmud and Josephus was about the time that this whole issue occurred about the scepter departing from judah.

And obviously with the 2020 hindsight We recognize that uh shiloh had come. He hadn't made his public appearance yet, except to the extent that it that That appearance of the temple might be very that he didn't really open his ministry until some years later we'll come back to that.

You'll notice in john 1831 The real proposition of the jews Just to give more substance to this idea. You'll notice in john chapter 18 is where they're Politicking to have The lord put to death and of course the Romans are no one's fool.

They're trying to get out from under this whole scene and They really would like to be free of this. Pilate says to them take ye him and verse 31 and judge him according to your law. Pilate's perfectly pleased to get rid of this particular administrative chore.

The jews therefore said to him is not lawful for us to put any man to death. That's the reference in effect that's supported if you want to dig back into the whole Background of where they lost their right to capital punishment and so forth.

Anyway, it's interesting that uh that uh Genesis 49 10 predicts that shiloh uh would come before the capital before the the scepter would depart from judah and That was even recognized by the high priests of that day.

But they did not recognize of course the fact that the shiloh had in fact made his appearance. Um moving on it says binding his foal unto the vine. Now tying the vine To judah you can do two different ways.