hath prevailed among the Jews (which is also confirmed by the Jerufalem Targum) that the tribe of Simeon were fo ftraitened in their fituation and circumstances, that great numbers were neceffitated to feek a fubfiftence among the other tribes by teaching and inftructing their children.-Of Zebulun it is faid, (ver. 13.) He shall dwell at the haven of the fea, and fhall be for an haven of ships: and accordingly the tribe of Zebulun extended from the fea of Galilee to the Mediterranean, (Joh. XIX. 10 &c.) where they had commodious havens for fhipping. And how could Jacob have foretold the fituation of any tribe, which was determined 200 years afterwards by cafting of lots, unless he had been directed by that divine Spirit, who difpofeth of all events?—Of Benjamin it is faid, (ver. 27.) He shall raven as a wolf: and was not that a fierce and warlike tribe, as appears in feveral instances, and particularly in the cafe of the Levite's wife, (Judg. XX.) when they alone waged war against all the other tribes, and overcame them in two battles? In this manner he characterizes thefe and qui, ut haberent unde viverent, fparfim et oppidatim pueros informare cogebantur. Cui fen the tentiæ adftipulatur et Thargum Hieros. &c. Fagius. (1) Shaw's the other tribes, and foretels their temporal condition, and that of Judah as well as the reft: Binding his fole unto the vine, and his affes colt unto the choice vine, be washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes fhall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk: (ver. 11, 12.) and not to mention the valley of Efhcol and other fruitful places, by the accounts of the beft travelers the mountains about Jerufalem were particularly fitted for the cultivation of the vine, and for the feeding of cattle. "The blefling, fays (1) Dr. Shaw, "that was given to Judah, was not of the "fame kind, with the bleffing of Afher or of "Iffachar that his bread fhould be fat, or bis "land fhould be pleafant, but that his eyes should "be red with wine, and his teeth fould be white "with milk." He farther obferves that "the "mountains of this country abound with "fhrubs and a delicate fhort grafs, both which "the cattle are more fond of, than of fuch plants as are common to fallow grounds and "meadows. Neither was this method of grazing peculiar to this country; inafmuch as it "is ftill practiced all over mount Libanus, the "Caftravan mountains and Barbary; in all "which places the higher grounds are fet (1) Shaw's Travels. p. 366, 367. 66 apart (2) Demon "apart for this ufe, and the plains and valleys for tillage. For befides the good manage"ment and oeconomy, there is this further ad"vantage, that the milk of cattle fed in this "manner is far more rich and delicious, as their "flesh is more sweet and nourishing. It may " be prefumed likewise, that the vine was not "neglected, in a foil and expofition fo proper "for it to thrive in." He mentions particularly "the many tokens which are to be met with, of the ancient vineyards about Je"rufalem and Hebron," and "the great quan tity of grapes and raifins, which are from "thence brought daily to the markets of Je"rufalem, and fent yearly to Egypt." But Jacob bequeaths to Judah particularly the spiritual bleffing, and delivers it in much the fame form of words that it was delivered to him. Ifaac had faid to Jacob, (Gen. XXVII. 29.) Let people ferve thee, and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's fons bow down to thee: and here Jacob faith to Judah, (ver. 8.) Thou art be whom thy brethren fhall praife; thy hand fhall be in the neck of thy enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. And for greater certainty it is added (ver. 10.) The Scepter fhall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. I will not trouble the reader or myself with a detail of the various interpretations which have been put upon this paffage, but will only offer that which appears to me the plainest, easiest, and best; I will first explain the words and meaning of the prophecy, and then show the full and exact completion of it. They who are curious to know the various interpretations of the learned, may find an account of them in (2) Huetius and (3) Le Clerc: but no one hath treated the subject in a more masterly manner than the prefent (4) Lord Bifhop of London; and we fhall principally tread in his footsteps, as we cannot follow a better guide. I. The feepter fhall not depart from Judah. The word a fhebet, which we tranflate a Scepter, fignifies a rod or faff of any kind; and particularly the rod or staff which (5) belonged to each tribe as an ensign of their authority; and thence it is transferred to fignify a tribe, as being united under one rod or staff of government, or a ruler of a tribe; and in this (2) Demonftratio Evangelica Prop. 9. Cap. 4. (3) Comment. in locum. (4) See the 3d Differtation in Bishop Sherlock's Difcourfes of the Ufe and Intent of Prophecy. (5) Bishop Sherlock hath cited to this purpose Menochius de Repub. Heb. Lib. 1. Cap. 4. Traductum vero nomen eft ad fignificandum tribum--quod unaquæque tribus fuam pecu this fenfe it is used twice in this very chapter, (ver. 16.) Dan fhall judge his people, as one of the tribes or rulers of Ifrael; and again (ver. 28.) All these are the twelve tribes or rulers of Ifrael. It hath the fame fignification in 2 Sam. VII. 7. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Ifrael, spake I a word with any of the tribes or rulers of Ifrael (in the parallel place of Chronicles 1 Chron. XVII. 6. it is judges of Ifrael) whom I commanded to feed my people Ifrael, faying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? The word doth indeed fometimes fignify a scepter, but that is apt to convey an idea of kingly authority, which was not the thing intended here: and the (6) Seventy translate it agxw a ruler, which anfwers better to a lawgiver in the following claufe. It could not with any fort of propriety be faid, that the Scepter should not depart from Judah, when Judah had no fcepter, nor was to have any for many generations afterwards: but Judah had a rod or staff of a tribe, for he was then constituted a tribe as well as the reft of his brethren. liarem virgam haberet, nomine fuo infcriptam, quam tribuum principes-manu geftare confueverant.--Cum Dominus Aaronem his verbis alloquitur, fed et fratres tuos de tribu Levi, et fceptrum patris tui fume tecum, (7) xas |