Introduction

The following Scriptures should raise no eyebrows:

Isaiah 33:22

“For YHVH is our Judge, YHVH is our Lawgiver (Mechoqeck), YHVH is our King; He  will save us.”

James 4:12

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.  But you - who are you to judge your neighbour?  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him,  speaks against the Law and judges it.   When you judge the Law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ”

Obviously, the Lawgiver does not break the Law by sitting in Judgment,  but His unauthorised subjects do.

Even opposers of God’s Law (Torah) would not think of denying that YHVH is the Lawgiver, as these Scriptures confirm.  They would however take exception to the following Scriptural statement and undoubtedly find, or create reasons for arguing it away.  The onus is on you though, as the individual reader, to consider the following statement and decide how you would accept it or interpret it.  This text uses the exact same Hebrew word Mechoqeck,, and is written in the very same Bible,  the Word of YHVH. 

This text will no doubt raise many eyebrows.- coming from the Mouth of YHVH Himself:

Ps 60:7  “Judah is my Lawgiver (Mechoqeck),”

And just in case someone may propose that this is an editorial error in the Bible,  it is repeated once more in Ps 108:8. 

The word Mechoqeck appears 6 times only, in the Tanach (OT).

Once it refers directly to YHVH Himself,  as quoted in the introduction above - Isaiah 33:22

Twice it refers clearly to Judah (the Jews). 

Ps 60:7  “Judah is My lawgiver.”  (Hebrew: ‘Yehudah Mechoqeqi’).  Some English translations render it ‘My Sceptre’.

Ps. 108:8 – the same -

Of the three remaining instances, twice it is a vague reference, but the final instance is an equally bold declaration regarding Judah, as recorded in the Word of YHVH.  This declaration regarding Judah is no doubt inspired by His Spirit in line with the Divine Promise made to Jacob by YHVH Himself at Luz (or Bethel) in Samaria.  According to this Divine Blessing, God would bless Jacob’s descendants, which would grow into a multitude of nations, whom God would bring back to this very Land of Israel (Genesis 28:10-19). :

This text and its bold declaration will form the theme of our further discussion.

Genesis 49:10

Divine Appointment of Judah

The Blessing declared by Gen. 49:10  upon the Tribe and the descendants of Judah, was part of the Blessings pronounced by Ya’acov (Jacob) under Divine Inspiration, on his death bed,  over his 12 sons (fathers of the 12 Tribes of the nation of Israel which would proceed from them).  It was defined as being  a  declaration of  ”what lies before them in time to come.”  (Genesis  49:1).

According to this Prophetic Blessing,  Judah (the Jews) would retain the ruling legal authority amongst the 12 Tribes of Israel "... UNTIL Shiloh comes," to whom the ruling authority "over the nations" belongs.

There can be no doubt, that one of the main reasons why Jews (descendents of the Tribe of Judah) are disliked by other nations,  is because of their image of representing legalism, religious legalism,  which they portray. This dislike certainly protrudes from many Christians who regard themselves as ‘free from this legalism by the Grace of their Messiah.’  Even a major part, if not the majority, of Hebraic Roots Restorers  (a great awakening phenomenon of late), protests against what they regard as ‘the man made legal obligations of the Rabbis’, though they are gradually partaking more and more of these Hebraic legal responsibilities themselves – like the Sabbath, Feast days, Jewish customs, etc.  In their restorative drive,  however,  they select  only those laws which they believe they are obligated to, and even then, they choose to interpret and define these Laws according to their own understanding or, as many claim, “according to the leading of the Holy Spirit”- though they still vociferously differ with each other. This results in great discord and disunity in the Restoration Movement because of the great confusion amongst its adherents regarding interpretation of these ‘Jewish’  Laws and practises and their rejection of Rabbinic interpretation of the ‘obstacles’ and issues about which they differ so much amongst themselves. 

Christians claim their Messiah replaced the authority of Judah

Let us consider at the outset, the claims of Christianity that the Christian Messiah, Jezus,  since his appearance 2000 years ago, has therefore replaced the ruling authority of the Jews, being Shilo who has come.  By far the greater majority of the Messianic Hebraic Restoration Movement, who proclaim a more authentic Jewish version of the Christian Messiah, and Whom they correctly call by His Hebrew name Y'SHUAH, also believe that He replaced the authority of Judah.

Let us recall here our opening quotation regarding Judah as being the Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) of YHVH.  Has Jezus or Y'SHUAH now replaced Judah as the Lawgiver, thereby ending its legal Mandate? Adherents of this claim are unanimous in their vehement denial and rejection of what they term as "Rabbinic authority".

Let the reader be in no doubts:  BIBLE REVELATIONS most emphatically proclaim that YAHU'SHUAH is in fact the Law Maker (Refer:

http://www.revelations.org.za/MenuOneneess.htm

The legal authority of Judah as the Mechoqeck of YHVH, entails the issue of law interpretation.  If  YAHU'SHUAH replaced Judah and its Rabbinic interpretation, where should Jews now turn to for Torah interpretation?  In 'Old Testament' times, ample Divine provision was made for the nation of Israel for Torah guidance:

Deut. 17: 8 -13   “If a case comes before you … any dispute at all … you must make your way to the place that YHVH your God chooses and approach the Levitical priests and judges then (today?  -  2006)  in office.  They will … give a decision for you.  You must abide by the decision they pronounce for you … you must take care to carry out all their instructions.  You must abide by the verdict they give you and by the decision they declare to you, swerving neither right or left of the sentence they have pronounced for you.  If anyone presumes to disobey either the priest who is there in the Service of YHVH your God, or the judge, that man must die.  You must banish this evil from Israel.  And all the people shall hear of it and be afraid and not act presumptuously a second time.”

And Messianic followers - after YAHU'SHUAH's  appearance 2000 years ago?  One of the remarkable features of the Hebraic Restoration Movement, is its Return to Torah observance - which is simply another Prophetic fulfilment.  In fact, this was one of the main mandates of Messiah - to return the masses to Torah observance - to reconcile them to His Eternal Covenant.

Refer http://www.reevelations.org.za/Eternal_Life.htm

Where should these Messianics turn for Torah enlightenment?  To credit YAHU'SHUAH with the designation of Mechoqeck for this dispensation, is nothing short of a grave insult against His capability as Law Interpreter.

That  'Shiloh'  refers to the Messiah, is almost unanimously agreed to by Jewish commentators throughout the ages.  Refer Notes:

So, are the Messianic claims then valid - or is there another explanation?

Christians believe that Messiah will return at the End of Time - in a 2nd Coming to rule as King.  Jewish interpretation is also explicit about the existence of TWO Messiahs:

- Messiah ben Yosef - Who will regather the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, having reconciled them to Torah observance, and

- Messiah ben David - Who will reign as King over Israel and the world.

(For further details on this subject, enter the Search string "Two Messiahs Judaism"  into Google.com Search Engine).

The Rabbinic sages knew that the ancestral right to kingly leadership rule, resting in the Davidic line of the tribe of Judah, would cease at the coming of the "Messiah, the son of David" (a common appellation of King Messiah found in rabbinic writings).  Whereas Jewish interpretation is vague on the precisse dispensational time settings for these two Messiahs, any Messianic believer should be well acquainted with the fact that Messiah will only rule as King at His second Coming - hence the daily prayer, "... Thy Kingdom come".

Conclusion:   'Shiloh' must therefore refer to Messiah's yet future and second Coming, when He will truly reign as King over the nations.  Until then, according to Gen. 49:10, Judah will still retain its authoritative legal rule, having duly been mandated for this by YHVH "until Shiloh comes - unto Whom the nations would be obedient."

Isaiah 11:10 - 13 "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.  In that day YHVH will reach out His hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel;  He will assemble the scattered people of Judah (Jews) from the four quarters of the earth.  Ephraim's (Biblical compound term used for regathered 10 Tribes of Israel) jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off;  Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah,  nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim." (Refer Ezekiel 37:15).
 

Though "the Root of Jesse" is claimed by Messianics to (correctly) refer to Messiah at His first coming, this Prophecy from Isaiah above clearly refers to a yet future event - a Time when Judah and Ephraim will be reconciled to each other.

Refer http://www.revelations.org.za/TenTribes.htm

UNTIL that Time of Reconciliation of the two divided Houses of Israel, Judah shall retain its Mechoqeck leadership through its Rabbinic authority over Torah interpretation - much to the vehement rejection of 'Ephraim' - the Ten Tribes and other Gentiles who have turned to the God of Israel.

Some amazing revelations await us as we delve deeper into the Hebrew Scriptures surrounding this topic of the Law of YHVH and Judah’s designation as the Mechoqeck of YHVH

May the contents of this study assist in bringing some agreement and unity, by accentuating the Divine appointment of Judah as the Mechoqeck of YHVH, i.e. the ‘Law Giver’ or Law Interpreter and authority.

What does the Law of YHVH entail – of which Judah has been declared ‘the Mechoqeck (Lawgiver) of YHVH’?

In its broader sense, the Law of YHVH is referred to as:

THE TORAH - "law; teaching, direction; instruction." This noun occurs 220 times in the Hebrew Tanach (OT).  In Judaism it entails the first 5 Books of the Bible which specifies the 613 Laws of YHVH.  Often referred to as ‘The Laws of Moses’ –  meaning, ‘as given through Moses’.

Ps 119 defines the Torah in finer detail:

Verse 1:  "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Torah of  YHVH" – followed by 176 verses praising the Laws, Statutes, Judgments, Commandments, Decrees, Precepts etc. We will shortly define the total encompassment of His Torah (Instruction, teaching, direction, system).

God gave Israel the Torah in order that they might observe it and live:

Deut 4:8 “And what nation is there so great, that has Statutes and Judgments so righteous as all this Law, which I set before you this day?".

The Prophets called Israel to repentance by returning to the Torah Instructions: Isaiah 1:10. Jeremiah prophesied of a future time when God would renew His Eternal Covenant with His People in terms of the ‘New Covenant’, according to which the Torah would be internalized:  God's people would willingly obey Him, according to a loving spiritual obedience of their hearts and minds: "I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" Jer 31:33. The closing paragraphs of the Tanach (O.T.) reminds and challenges God's people to remember the "Law of Moses” in preparation for the coming of Messiah - Mal 4:4.

What does this Law of Moses entail, to which the people are admonished to return?

The word ‘Torah’ is derived from the Hebrew root verb yarah - (2 Chron 26:15) meaning to show the way, to shoot, to throw (like an arrow), to pour water, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach, archer, direct, inform, instruct, to lay a cornerstone.

The word for a teacher, in Hebrew (Moreh), is a direct derivative of this verb.

Do we have an indication here, that by being appointed and declared the ‘Mechoqeck’ of YHVH (‘The Lawgiver’), that Judah has been Divinely intended to be the Law Teacher of the 12 Tribes and of the world?  Let us see if we find further references in our search for this answer,  by delving further into the meanings of the various Hebrew words used for ‘Law’ in the Bible.  Let us throughout our study also bear in mind the mandated pointers of Shevet (Sceptre) and Mechoqeck  given for Judah in Gen. 49:10.

Ps 119 confirms that the Law of YHVH entails various concepts which we will list under the section Notes 2 for those readers who want to make an in-depth study.:

This wide encompassment of His Law, gives clear indication of how shallow the reasoning goes, which claims that God has no Law – or, that it is only the 10 Commandments which have to be observed.  YHVH’s Laws and System is for the purposes of running a country and a nation – and this requires as wide a set of laws, rules and regulations as any country requires. 

It should resolve from this, that amongst the professing followers of YHVH across the world, who read and search the Bible,  the authority regarding the spiritual operation and determination of this much wider encompassment of His Law has been given to the spiritual leaders of Judah – “until Shiloh comes, to Whom the Rule belongs," ... when nations will be subdued to His Rule of Law – as in any government in the world.

From this broad Biblical and ‘national’ perspective, the jurisdiction of the Rabbinic authorities should be clear, as also authorised by Messiah Himself in:

Math. 23:1-3  “Then YAHU’SHUAH said to the crowds and to His disciples:  "The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. …”

Romans 3:2  “They (the Jews) have been entrusted with the very Words of God“. 

Math. 23:2 closely relays the Torah instruction of Deuteronomy 17: 8 -13 which we have quoted earlier here above, with its directives to turn to YHVH's appointed Mechoqeck for Law interpretation - and to strictly abide to it

Modern day Messianic Hebraic Roots Restorers who are in the process of returning to Torah (as prophesied in Ezek. 37:15 and other Prophecies),  take great exception to the suggestion that Math. 23:2 above, pronounces YAHU’SHUAH Messiah’s sanction of Deut. 17’s Divine declaration.   Could it really be co-incidence that YAHU’SHUAH’s instruction so precisely echoes the Deut. 17 instruction?

FURTHER  DIVINE  MANDATES UNTO  JUDAH

Gen. 49:10 “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah … until Shiloh comes …”

The Hebrew word translated  Sceptre here, is ‘Shevet’

Shevet  -  "tribe; rod." In modern Hebrew it mainly means "tribe".  In the Tanach it is used 143 times to denote a "tribe," a division in a nation. It is the preferred term used for the twelve Tribes of Israel  Gen 49:16; Ex 28:21. 

As ‘a rod’, the word Shevet  is used as  ’a symbol of authority in the hands of a ruler’.  As such it is translated ‘sceptre’ in Amos 1:5,8 and as ‘an instrument of warfare’ by Messiah at the establishment of His Kingdom.  "But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod (Shevet) of His mouth..." Isaiah 11:4.

In Gen. 49:10,  Shevet is generally translated ‘Sceptre’ – depicting the Rule and authority of Judah. This interpretation however, would result in duplicating the “ruling“ aspect of this Divine Mandate in this Scripture, viz.   “The Sceptre (ruling rod) shall not depart from Judah,  nor a Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) from between his feet,  until Shiloh comes to Whom the Rule belongs.”    We may therefore consider to use the alternative and more often used meaning of ‘Tribe’ for Shevet, in the first part of the text.  Thus:  “The Tribe (tribal identity) shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver (Mechoqeck) from between his feet,  until Shiloh comes.”  This would be perfectly valid in terms of the historic fact that, while the Ten Tribes of Israel disappeared because they rejected the authority of Judah and were resultantly cut off and exiled by YHVH. Judah remained identified throughout the 2000 years of their dispersion – all the time retaining and expounding their M’Choqeck  (Lawgiver) Mandate.

As for the word ‘Law’, where we have seen various alternative synonyms, the word Shevet also has a synonym:  “Matteh” – meaning both ‘rod’ and ‘tribe’. . It occurs 251 times in Tanach.  As ‘staff’ it signifies authority or power over another nation. And as such is used in ref. to the Messianic Rule Ps 110:2.  It refers to ‘Tribe’ 183 times.  The "tribes" of Israel are each designated as ‘matteh’.

This dual meaning for ‘matteh’ therefore validates the probability that the Divine Mandate to Judah, in Gen. 49:10, could well refer to the maintenance of Judah’s Tribal identity as the ‘Lawgiver’ of YHVH, who would be recognized for it by the Returnees of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.

Prophecy predicted the re-identifying of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel in the End Time, when they would return to Torah and to the Land, by their own free will and out of their Love for Messiah.  It should be clear from this, that their Return should then also be preceded by true repentance from their original arrogance and rejection of the authority of Judah and a recognition and subjection to Judah’s Divine Mandate as M’Choqeckim  (Lawgivers) of YHVH.

For a clearer understanding of such a suggested probability,  it is necessary that we at this stage do a quick review of the conditions surrounding the historic rejection of Judah and its Divinely mandated Mechokek (Law Giver) status,  by the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel,

The Original Rebellion of the Ten Tribes of Israel

In the time of  King Solomon (970 - 931 BCE),  the ancient Kingdom of Israel split into 2 opposing sectors:  'Israel' - the Northern sector, 10 Tribes, Main City Shechem;  and 'Judah' – the southern kingdom, 2 Tribes, with their Main City Jerusalem.  After this, the Tanach (OT) specifies and refers to the various sectors by referring to “Israel and Judah”.  It also refers to the Ten Tribes as “Ephraim’ or Joseph’.  The alert reader should bear this division in mind and steer away from the general concept that the Jews of today represent 12-Israel.  The Bible record is very distinct in its reference to this division.

The Northern Ten Tribes (10-Israel) vehemently rejected the religious authority of Judah and sunk into paganism under the rule of king Ahaz, Jezebel and others.  This soon earned 10-Israel the rejection of YHVH  and they were cut off from the Covenant with YHVH and exiled amongst the nations to become known as the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.

For purposes of our topic, we are particularly interested in the historic cultural and religious attitude of 10-Israel towards Judah’s  Mechoqeck leadership, which led to their rejection by YHVH,  The seldom read books of Kings and Chronicles record this history of the two greatly divided Kingdoms in very interesting style – once one is aware of this great rift in God’s People and when comparing it with the culture and attitude today, of these Ten Tribes which,  in miraculous fulfilment of Ezek. 37:15 and other Prophecies, are being re-identified and slowly re-united with Judah.  The Divine Purpose?  To mould them into One nation again, who will worship Him in unity, and according to His Torah or Laws.  We will then relate it to our topic, in an effort to resolve the ever popular rejection of Judaism and its Rabbinical leadership in the light of their Divine appointment as the Mechoqeck of YHVH.

The Arrogance of 10-Israel against

The Inviolable Covenant

1 Kings 11:9  records how YHVH became angry with the Judean King Solomon because his heart had turned away from YHVH who favoured him particularly.  YHVH undertook to tear the Kingdom 

1 Kings 11:9  “For your father David’s sake however (from the Tribe of Judah) … I will not tear the whole Kingdom (away).  For the sake of David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen,  I will leave  … one Tribe..”  This Tribe would be Judah, as Scripture confirms.

His Purpose with retaining  one Tribe, is explained in verse 26,  “So that My servant David will always have a Light in My Presence in Jerusalem, the City I have chosen as a Dwelling Place for My Name.”

This links up with His Divine Intention of selecting Judah as His Shevet (Tribe) and Mechoqeck.  This is part of the fulfilment of the Divine Blessing of Judah to remain an ongoing, identified Tribe before Him.

This is re-affirmed in 2 Chronicles 13:5  “Do you not know, that YHVH the God of Israel, has given the sovereignty (Kingdom) of Israel to David for ever? It is an inviolable Covenant!.”

In the chapters  (1 Chron. 11-13) surrounding this monumental statement, we read of the straying of 10-Israel under their own appointed king Jeroboam, who disowned and rejected the Levites and Priests of Judah who were in Northern Israel.  These priests returned to Judah and Jerusalem to serve YHVH with Judah,  They were joined by “members of all the tribes (of 10-Israel) who were wholeheartedly devoted to the worship of YHVH.”  (1 Chron. 11:15) . 

Surely, here is a clear indication of the spirit of YHVH’s elect – to come OUT of paganism and anti-Judah opposers and to return to and join Judah, YHVH’s sole remaining Kingdom Tribe?

In these chapters (and many others in these ‘hidden records’ of Chronicles and Kings) we also find clear defining of the spirit, attitude and actions of 10-Israel:

1 Chron. 12:1  They soon rejected the Law of YHVH.

1 Chron. 13:9  They drove out the priests of YHVH to make priests of their own liking.

1 Chron. 10:16  10-Israel called out: “What share have we in David?  We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! … henceforth, look after your own House, David!”  They thus rejected the House of Judah and the Faith and Law of YHVH.

1 Chron. 10:19  “And the House of (10) Israel remained separated from the House of David until the present day.”

In these hidden books we find a wonderful Prophecy:

2 Chron. 15:3  “Many a day Israel will spend without a faithful God, without priest (Cohen, Rabbi) to teach, without Torah (for they have rejected and pulled away from the Mechoqeck of YHVH).  But in their distress they will return to YHVH, the God of Israel.  They will seek Him, and He will let them find Him.”  (But it will be in a time of trouble amongst the nations – verse 5 – 7).  There will be those who try to twist this as applying to the Jews (Judah)  Verse 1-3 of this chapter however clearly defines that it refers to 10-Israel and not to Judah.

In 1 Kings 12:26 onwards, we read about 10-Israel’s king Jeroboam, how he declared his anti-Judah religious practises, after rejecting the Judah leadership – for fear that 10-Israelites would return to the Jewish Faith and thus cause his death:

-        he built a new non-Jewish Temple at Bethel

-        he appointed priest from ordinary non-Levite families.

-        he moved the ‘Jewish’ feasts a month on.

This sounds peculiarly familiar to the attitude of modern 10-Israelites who reject the Mechoqeck leadership of Judah and insist on having their own Beth Din’s, their own temples distinctly separated from Judah, their own ‘corrected’ Bible Calendar, their own appointed teachers and priests.

Do they not know, that YHVH the God of Israel, has given the sovereignty (Kingdom) of Israel to David for ever?  It is an inviolable Covenant!

Is it not clear, also in light of the Prophecies of re-uniting 10-Israel and Judah into ONE nation, ONE House again, that the Divine Intent according to this inviolable Covenant must be to join His Kingdom which had been allotted to Judah – the Kingdom of David?

Is this not the Kingdom which YAHU’SHUAH told us to pray for:  “Let thy Kingdom come …?”  Is there another Kingdom,  another inviolable Covenant?

Significantly,  King Jeroboam of 10-Israel pronounced this Divine Truth in his arrogant address to his nation when he was to attack Judah in war!

Every returning 10-Israelite today, stands before this vital decision:  Who will he/she join:

-10-Israel in their rebellion against Judah’s Mechoqeck appointment?

- or, will they return in humility to Judah to learn from its teachers?

AN  EVEN  HIGHER  CALLING  YET

Psalm 78 gives a lengthy overview  of the history of Israel’s provoking of God  and concludes with God’s election of Judah in preference to Israel (Ten Tribes).  Yet, in this He provided a Way of Escape  for 10-Israel:

Ps. 78:67 “ Moreover He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim (10-Israel):   But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.  And He built His sanctuary a copy of High Heaven, founding it firm like the earth which He established for ever.  He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance / heritage.”

Judah would oversee His Sanctuary on Mount Zion,  where His Holy City Jerusalem is built.  By maintaining the Sanctuary of YHVH and its inherent religious ‘System’, Judah would spiritually lead, feed, teach and care for 10-Israel – His heritage or dominion.

This is also confirmed in Ps. 114:2    “Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion.”  This is a much quoted portion in the Jewish Pesach ceremony,  saying that at the sight of the 12 Tribes leaving Egypt during the Exodus, “the mountains and hills skipped like rams’ (verse 6). at the sight of the Purpose of God, to rule through His elected over the world, was being  in process.  Of course, we know today, that the final fulfilment would be achieved in the 2^nd Exodus at the Return of all 12 Tribes from across the world where they have been exiled and dispersed amongst the nations (Jeremiah 16:14;  23:7 READ!).

Just as in any country, kingdom or domain, there has to be a legal judicial body.  In the Kingdom of YHVH on earth, it is Judah.  Just as the citizens of any country will always have criticism and dislikes with certain issues of the ruling law system, so, in the Kingdom of YHVH there is a majority of professing citizens who criticise,  object and even reject the judicial rule instituted by YHVH Himself. Just as citizens in any country take the rule of law in their own hands, so the citizens of YHVH’s Kingdom do and try and get away by making their own adaptations of the law of the country.

“Judah his sanctuary” - God set up His true System of worship amongst the Jews, and made them His peculiar people who would be settled in the Land of Israel, controlling the City which bears His Name and His favour -  Jerusalem.  His Temple would be in Jerusalem, controlled by Judah. This would be His abode; His sacred dwelling-place while the Temple was there. Judah was the principal or leading tribe, recognized as the tribe where power and leadership was to be concentrated, and from which the ruling Messiah was to proceed. 

“Judah was his Sanctuary.” – the verb  "was" in the original Hebrew is  in the feminine conjunction. Judah is therefore here personified as a virgin (Isaiah 22:4), "the daughter of My people" (Ps 45:12). The choice of Judah as "His sanctuary" or holy dwelling, denotes the elect nation's separation from the world and consecration as "holy unto YHVH her God" (Deut 7:6; Ex 19:5-6). Judah is chosen as being, from the time of the carrying away of the Ten tribes, the surviving heir of the ancient Divine Promises belonging to it (Ps 76:1).

Blessed are the people who have God's Sanctuary among them (Ex 25:8; Ezek 37:26).

Ezek 37:26-28  “I (YHVH) will put My sanctuary among them forever.  My dwelling place will be above them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.  Then the nations will know that I,  YHVH, make Israel holy, when My Sanctuary is among them forever.'"

While it is generally accepted that this Sanctuary refers to God’s Personal Physical Presence and Rule in His Kingdom,  the question may now arise whether this ‘Sanctuary’ could refer to Judah in any way.  There may be a hint in favour of this reasoning by the emphasis in the Hebrew word meanings represented in bold above, viz.

Among them – Hebrew b’tochem – literally ‘within their midst’.

Above them –  Hebrew ‘uleihem’  - ‘Over above’ them, as in the Israeli airline El-Al  (lit. ‘to and above’) This text is generally translated as ‘with them’.

Our next section further down will shed some further light on this probability.

“and Israel His dominion” – over whom, or through whom, He would rule His Kingdom.  The Hebrew word used here for dominion, is memshalot, i.e. the plural form – ‘and Israel His dominions.’  The plural denotes them being ‘many nations’ according to the Promises to the patriarchs: Abraham, Yitzchak and Ya’acov.

AND  THEN  THE  ULTIMATE!

The most amazing revelation awaits us as we consider yet another Divine Declaration in the Hebrew Scriptures regarding Judah’s designation and calling in the Plan of YHVH for humanity.

Our study thusfar has given us some deeper insight into the Divine Mandate decreed upon Judah, as defined in our main text under review - Gen. 49:10 above.  A golden rule of Bible study, is to read any quoted texts in their context in a paragraph, chapter or section.  In doing so, we find, in the verse just prior (verse 8),  a staggering bold Prophetic declaration about Judah – the Jews:

Gen 49:8  “Judah, your brothers will praise you;  your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;  your father's sons will bow down (mishtachaveh)  to you. “

The Hebrew word  ‘mishtachaveh’  means ‘to bow down in worship’  The 1^st Command, a most logic one, acceptable to even those believers who regard themselves as totally free from the Law, decrees that:

Ex 20:3-5  “You shall have no other gods before Me  … You shall not worship (mishtachaveh)  them or serve them.“ 

“The children of Judah’s father” who would bow down (worship?) before Judah (the Jews) could refer to Judah’s 11 brothers, viz. the 10 Northern Tribes and Benjamin.  It could also possibly refer to  even all 12, including  a sector of Judah, if perhaps the object of this bowing down would refer to a select sacred segment within Judah.

Do we have a Scriptural suggestion of a total absurdity here, or is there more to it than meets the eye at first glance?

“For you are ‘gods’ (elohim) !”

 John 10:34   “Messiah answered them,  ‘Is it not written in your Torah, 'I have said you are gods? So the Torah uses the word ‘god’ (elohim) of those to whom the Word of God was addressed – and  Scripture can not be rejected.'”  This bolded text portion, a statement by Messiah Himself, should be foremost in our minds in the further part of this review:  Scripture (Torah) can NOT be rejected, whether  we like it or not; whether it suites our theories or not – and ultimately, whether it implies what may seem to us to be an absurdity or not!

In this astonishing statement, YAHU’SHUAH referred the Jews who were stoning Him “for claiming to be God”  (verse 33). to a statement regarding Judah, contained in the Word of YHVH – thus claimed Messiah! – that Judeans were ‘gods’!

Let us read this straight from the Scriptures:

Psalm 82:1  “God (Elohim) stands in the divine assembly (amongst His elected)  Among the gods (elohim) He dispenses Justice … (v. 6)  I once said, ‘You too are gods (elohim) – sons of the Most High, all of you!’”

Note, that YHVH is addressing His elect with this bold statement.  But, of whom did He say this, ‘You too are gods”?  

Exodus 7:1  “YHVH said to Moses,  ‘See, I make you god (elohim) to Farao, and Aaron your brother is to be your prophet…”

From Exodus 21:7 and  Deut 19:17 it is clear that the judges and rulers of Judah of old, in these designations, were referred to as ‘elohim’ (gods).  YHVH mandated them with His own Rulership, as a King designates his authority and rule to his subordinates; as a CEO of a business corporation designates the management of his company to his board of directors.

The question that those Messianics who reject Rabbinic authority has to answer to, is whether such subordinates have to be obeyed and consulted for leadership and execution of the will and requirements of their superiors?

NOW – For the ultimate of ultimates!

Scripture seems to hint that the overcomers will “become God” themselves.

Daniel ch. 7:13 - 23. "I gazed into the visions of the night,  and I saw coming on the clouds of Heaven, one like a Son of Man (the obvious conclusion from this is that it refers to Messiah - but read on).  He came to the One of Great Age (the normal conclusion here is that it refers to 'God the Father' - thus, Messiah approaching the Father - read on) and was led into His presence.  On him (the son of man?) was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship and men of all nations and languages became his servants.  His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away nor will his empire be destroyed."

Who is this ‘Son of Man” who will have an eternal sovereignty?  Most readers assume that we have here a prophecy of the Messiah taking the Kingdom Rule which the Father appoints Him.

But is that truly what the Word says?

No!  And when we discover what the implication of this prophetic vision truly is, then we will also understand the Key which YAHU'SHUAH Himself gives us in the above mentioned Scriptures, which seem to point to, and which so many believers interpret as,  a duality of the "Father and the Son", making "2 Gods" - which is totally an unscriptural and pagan concept, gravely insulting and dethroning the One True God!

Let us read directly from the Scriptures what this vision of Daniel entailed – re. the "one like the Son of Man coming to the Ancient of Days".

Dan. 7:15  "Daniel was deeply disturbed and the vision alarmed him.  (Daniel is a Jew who believes in One True God only).  So I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to tell me the Truth about all this.  And in reply he revealed to me what all these things meant.  ... Those (like a son of man, coming on the clouds) who are granted sovereignty,  are the saints of the Most High and the Kingdom will be theirs for ever, for ever and ever!

In inquiring after the little Horn in the vision, which persecuted these overcoming saints, it is confirmed once more in verse 21,22 that it will continue  "... until the coming of the One of Great Age Who gave Judgment in favour of the saints of the Most High, when the time came for the saints to take over the Kingdom."

A third confirmation follows in verse 27 "And the sovereignty and kingship, and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.  His sovereignty (the one like unto the Son of Man, coming on the clouds) is an eternal sovereignty, and every empire will serve and obey him."

No doubt,  there are those who will use this information now as a confirmation of their denial of "the Messiah" Whom Scripture refers to also as "coming on the clouds."

However, YAHU'SHUAH Himself gives us the answer to this fatal denial, at the same time showing why He seems to acknowledge being subservient to "His Father and His God".  The answer comes clearly  from:

.
Rev. 2:26  "... I will give the authority over the nations which I Myself have been given by My Father, to rule them with an iron scepter ... if anyone has ears, let them listen to what the Spirit is saying." (regarding "the secret of the seven stars He is holding in His Right Hand" and to whom this Message is directed, i.e. His true followers, in the 7 congregations. -1:20).

Again in Rev 3:5 "Those who prove victorious ... I shall acknowledge their names in the presence of My Father."  3:12  "Those who prove victorious, I will make into pillars in the sanctuary of My God ... I will inscribe on them the Name of My God ... and (it is also) My own New Name as well “

And finally, in Rev. 3:21  "To those who prove victorious, I will allow to share My Throne, just as I was victorious Myself and took My Place with My Father on His Throne.  If anyone has ears to hear, let them listen to what the Spirit is saying to the (overcomers)."

Do you realise what the mind shattering implication of this 'Secret' is?  I say it with great trepidation, fearing what some humans will do in accepting and applying this Revelation.
We shall be like God.  We shall become God! - if we truly prove victorious like He did.

Ps. 82:6  "I (God v.1) have said 'You are Elohim' (The title of YHVH) and all of you are 'sons of God' (the Most High)."

1 John 3:1,2  "Think of the Love that the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called 'children of God'.  And that is what we are!  Because the world has refused to acknowledge Him, therefore it does not acknowledge us.  My dear people, we are already the Children of God, but what we are to be in the future, has not yet been revealed.  All we know is, that when it is revealed, we shall be like Him ..."

Extensions of the True Gospel

In Messiah’s address to His disciples after having partaken of the Last Supper (Pesach Seder), He unveils (though in concealed format) the ultimate award and position that YHVH’s true followers would achieve – their  ultimate Reward!  This speech spans several chapters – John 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. This last chapter records His Prayer for His followers in which He emphasises this ONE-ness which is attainable in the Godhead.

John 17:11b  “Holy Father, keep those in Your Name whom You have given Me, so that they may be one like Us …v. 20  I pray not only for these, but for those also who, through their words, will believe in Me.  May they all be ONE.  Father may they be ONE in Us as You are in Me and I am in You” (also verse 22,23).

It seems then, that we have here,  yet another exhilarating extension of the Gospel of the Kingdom:   i.e. YHVH manifested Himself as a Human Being, the Messiah YAHU’SHUAH (ben Yoseph) in order to become the “first Born of many” who would become ONE with Him and YHVH, as they are One”

Can it be, that the ultimate Oneness will contain the ‘gods’ of Judah’ and the gods of 10-Israel (called out and perfected by Messiah) to form the ONE Body (nation) that this Mystery seems to point to?

For Returning 10-Israel, the implication and Message should be clear:’

“Be Holy as YHVH is Holy” ,

Commit yourselves fully to the Calling of YAHU’SHUAH – which is BACK into Covenant together with Judah.  This will require in-depth knowledge of His Torah.  The Body of Returning 10-Israel,  as the ‘dominion of YHVH’,  therefore has to subject themselves to the learning, teaching and authority of Judah’s  ‘elohim’ – the judges and rulers

–       the Mechoqeck of YHVH

–       the Sanctuary of YHVH

Final Conclusion

Summarising our findings from this study, it would be reasonable to suggest a descriptive alternate for this text as follows:

 “The tribal Identity shall not depart from Judah, nor his judicial and educational authority  (Mechoqeck) from between his feet, until One like the Son of Man (returning 10-Israel) comes; and unto him (ultimate re-united 12-Israel)  shall the obedience of the nations be.”   

What a Calling!!!!  What a Great designation to miss out on if we fail!

PS.  To anyone who assumes that this suggests a diminishing of the Role of Messiah YAHU’SHUAH, let it be known, that without His Reconciliatory feat and accomplishment, the fulfilment of this Calling would not have been possible and would never come about!

Other related reading material on this Subject in this Web Site-

Menu for Studies about the True Way
The Covenant - Key to Eternal Life
Should Gentiles convert to Judaism?

The Scepter shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh come

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Ancient Jewish tradition identified this mysterious person called "Shiloh" in Genesis 49:10, as being the Messiah:

"Until Shiloh comes": this alludes to the King Messiah" - Midrash Genesis Rabbah 98.8, ibid 99.9

"The Messiah's name is Shiloh" - Midrash Lamentations Rabbah I.16.51

The Targums [Ancient Aramaic translations and paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible] are almost unanimous in giving "Shiloh" a Messianic interpretation for they rendered Genesis 49:10:

"Until the Messiah comes whose is the Kingdom" - Targum Onkelos

"Until the time King Messiah shall come, whose is the kingdom" - Targum Jerusalem

"Until the time King Messiah shall come whose is the kingship" - Targum Neofiti I

"Until King Messiah shall come, the youngest of his sons" - Targum Ps. Jonathan or Jerusalem I

There is great insight in the extensive Targumic and rabbinic tradition (see Rashi ad loc., Sanhedrin 98b B.T.; Midrash Genesis Rabbah 98.8; 99.8; Tanchumah Vayehi 10; Midrash haGadol I.735-739; Journal of Philology Vol. XIV [1885] pp.4-22), that ascribes a Messianic interpretation to the verse: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah...until Shiloh comes and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." They knew that the ancestral right to kingly leadership, resting in the Davidic line of the tribe of Judah, would cease at the coming of the "Messiah, the son of David" (a common appellation of King Messiah found in rabbinic writings). For the Messiah was the culmination of the royal line originating from David, the first king of the tribe of Judah. And just as King David was "the youngest" (1 Samuel 16:11; 17:14) of Jesse's sons, so the Messiah at the end of the line of David's "sons" may be said to be "King Messiah...the youngest of his [King David's] sons" - Genesis 49:10. Targum Ps. Jonathan or Jerusalem Targum I.

The scribes knew that what belonged to him (the King Messiah) "whose it is," was the scepter, the kingdom and the obedience of the peoples. Furthermore they also knew that this mysterious personage was to have a very precious heritage in store for him at his coming, which is why the later redactors of the Septuagint rendered Genesis 49:10 in their revisions:

There are abundant writings from the ancient rabbis that the name “Shiloh,” is an idiom for the Messiah. The word “Shiloh,” was frequently used to describe the Messiah.

“The world was created for the sake of the Messiah, what is this Messiah’s name? The school of Rabbi Shila said, “His name is Shiloh, for it is written: until Shiloh comes.” (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 98b, Rabbi Johanan)

The Targum Yerushalmi further states:

“Kings shall not cease from the house of Judah…until the time of the coming of the King Messiah….to whom all the dominions of the earth shall be subservient.”(The Search for the Messiah, Page 100, Dr. Mark Eastman)

All the three Targums interpret Shiloh of the Messiah. As many of the Jewish writers do, both ancient and modern {Zohar in Gen. fol. 32. 4. & in Exod. fol. 4. 1. & in Numb. fol. 101. 2. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 98. sect. 85. 3. Jarchi & Baal Hatturim, in loc. Nachmanidis Disputat. cum Paulo, p. 53. Abarbinel. Mashmiah Jeshuah, fol. 10. 1. R. Abraham Seba, Tzeror Hammor, fol. 36. 4. & 62. 2}. It also is the name of the Messiah in the Talmud { T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 98. 2}, and in other writings {Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2}., for he was of a quiet and peaceable disposition. He came to make peace between God and men, and made it by the blood of his cross. And he gives spiritual peace to all his followers. He brings them at length to everlasting peace and happiness. He is doing all this, b! ecause he has prospered and succeeded in the great work of their redemption and salvation he undertook.

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NOTES 2

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