Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

The homage of the tribes to that of Juda is again expressed in stronger terms. Its preeminence was always conspicuous. Numb. 10 : 4; Judges 20 : 18. a H. P. " From the prey." The young lion having seized on prey, carries it to its cave in the mountains.

The strength of a full-grown lion, satiated with prey, is used as an image of Juda victorious and triumphant.

The lioness is easily irritated and becomes frantic with rage. She serves to represent Juda, formidable in her retaliation, when provoked. u The lion, when his appetite has been satisfied, is less fierce, but it is never safe to rouse him from his repose.

The abundance of grapes in the portion belonging to the tribe of Juda is signified by these expres- sions. Ordinarily the vine is slender, but " in those eastern countries," says Oeddes, " the vines have large stems."

Personal beauty-sparkling eyes and milk-white teeth— may be taken as emblematio of high privileges.

Although the division of the land of Canaan by lot among the tribes took place several hundred years after this prediction, the portion of the tribe of Zabulon was such as is here described. It extended from the shore of the Mediterranean to the sea of Tiberias, and northward to the confines of Phenicla, of which Sidon was the capital. It did not reach Sidon itself; but it is not unusual in Scripture to

Aser signifies happy , or fortunate. Pine wheat, and abundance of oil, were in his portion. Kings might be supplied with dainties from its produce. Moses blessing this tribe, said : "Let him dip his foot in oil." Dent. 33 : 24. u Barac of this tribe was called forth by Debora, the prophetess, to go at the head of ten thousand men of Nephtali and of Zabulon, against Sisara, and the army of Jabin, king of Canaan. He went forth timid as a hart, not being willing to engage, unless Debora accompanied him. The victory was celebrated by a beautiful canticle. Judges 5 : 1. Bochart translates this verse differently: "Nephtali is a wide- spreading turpentine tree, shooting forth beautiful branches." The great increase of the tribe from very small beginnings and its general prosperity are predicted. From four they grew to fifty thousand fighting men during their stay in Egypt. Galilee, which was part of their territory, was most fertile. See Josephus A. 1. 30, c. 2.

H. P. "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall." He is likened to a stem, nourished by the neighboring stream, and spreading over the wall to which it elings. The terms rendered bough and branches, literally signify son and daughters, and are seldom absolutely put in a figurative sense. St. Jerome, with several Jewish writers, takes them literally : " 0 my son Joseph, so beautiful art thou that a whole crowd of the damsels of Egypt gather on the walls and turrets, and at the windows, to behold thee!"

H. " The arms of his hands were light"— his arms were made ready for action. The attitude of an archer discharging his arrow with certain effect is described. P. " Were made strong." L. " Were made firm." " Of bis bands " is redundant.

"By the mighty one." "The hands" is again redundant.

Crown of the head. m The term signifies one separated, and marks the excellence of Joseph. n The warlike habits and the rapacity of this tribe are expressed by the similitude of a woH seising on prey early in the morning, and tearing it in pieces even till night Their brutal conduct to the wife of a Levite provoked the other tribes to a war of extermination, which resulted well-nigh in their extinction. St. Paul, of this tribe, in early life raged as a ravenous wolf; but afterwards shared with others the spiritual spoils of the Apostles of Christ.