Hey MarcR, what do you think about this promise? Gen. 49:10: "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."
Here is an excerpt from my commentary. A link to download the full commentary can be found in the about me section of my profile.
10 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.
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the obedience of the people be.
sceptre shall not depart from Judah this is a prophesy of the Davidic monarchy
nor the ruler’s staff
Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon renders this ‘Commander’s Staff’;
Rabbi J. H. Hertz translation and commentary Pentateuch and Haftorahs p 185 Soncino Press London 1937 renders it ruler’s staff.
Persian and Assyrian kings are often depicted on their monuments with a staff between their knees.
from (Rabbi J. H. Hertz commentary on this verse Pentateuch and Haftorahs p 185 Soncino Press London 1937)
obedience
יִקְּהַ֥ח obedience (BDB)
Shiloh
שַׁילֹה means Tranquil or Peaceful
until Shiloh come Christian and Jewish scholars agree this is to be understood as the promise of a Messiah.
The birthright had two components: a double portion of the inheritance, which went to Joseph; and Spiritual leadership of the family, which went to Judah.