Judah in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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Who is Judah?
JU'DAH
(praise). 1. The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, was born in Mesopotamia. Gen 29:35. The name was given as an expression of the mother's gratitude. We know more of him than of the other patriarchs except Joseph, whose life he saved, advising the sale. Gen 37:26-28. His marriage, an incident in his son's life, and his liaison with Tamar are recorded in Gen 38. Judah became the surety for the safety of Benjamin on the second journey to Egypt. Gen 43:3-10. His conduct is worthy of all praise, and his plea for Benjamin's liberty is one of the most touching speeches in the Bible.Gen 44:14-34. He went down into Egypt with three sons. Gen 46:12. The tribe of Judah was always large and prominent, vying with Ephraim for the supremacy. The prophetic blessing which his father pronounced on Judah, Gen 49:8-12, is very remarkable. It describes the warlike character and gradually increasing strength of the tribe, comp. Num 2:3; Josh 14:11; Isa 15:1; Judges 1:1-2:1 Chr 14:17; Ps 18:40; Isa 29:1 (where its capital is called Ariel, "lion of God"), Rev 5:5; the duration of its power -- viz. until the coming of Christ, when Judaea became a province of Rome, comp. Luke 2:1-7; John 18:31: Acts 5:37; and the destruction of their city, a.d. 70, when the Christian dispensation had become established, comp. Matt 24:14; Acts 2:8; Rom 10:18, in the glory and triumph of the Messiah. His descendants took the southern section of Canaan, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, and northwardly to the territory of Benjamin and Dan. Josh 15:1-63. In the catalogue of the cities of this tribe we have the "uttermost cities," or those nearest Edom, on the south; cities "in the valley" -- that is, on the lowlands, near the coast; cities "in the mountains" -- that is, up in the interior; and cities "in the wilderness," or along the shores of the Dead Sea. Josh 15:21, Josh 15:33, Josh 15:48, Josh 15:61. Of the cities of Judah, several continued in the possession of the natives (as Ashdod, Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron), or, if conquered, were afterward recovered. 1. Father of two Levites who were overseers of the temple-work. Ezr 3:9. 2. A Levite who had a foreign wife. Ezr 10:23; Neh 12:8, Neh 12:36. 3. A Benjamite. Neh 11:9.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'judah' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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