The Tribe of Judah.

Census. At the time of the migration into Egypt while Joseph was still ruling in Egypt Judah had three sons, but so greatly did this family increase that at the first census it numbered 74,600, being first in population of all the tribes. At the second census it numbered 76,500, still retaining its rank as the largest tribe.

Position. Judah's place was on the east side of the tabernacle toward the rising of the sun, with his kinsmen Issachar and Zebulun (2:3-9; 10:14).

Standard. The rabbis say that this standard was of 3 colors, sardine, topaz and carbuncle, on which were inscribed the names of the 3 tribes, bearing the figure of a lion's whelp (Tg, pseudo. Jon. on Num 2:3). According to other rabbinical authority, Judah's standard was green, with the symbol of a lion.

Journeying. "All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Judah (Issachar and Zebulun), one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred-- these shall break camp first." (Num 2:9)

Representatives. Its representative among the spies, and also among those appointed to partition the land, was Caleb the son of Jephunneh (Num. 13:6).

Interesting Notes. The tribe of Judah, along with Benjamin, remained true to David's line when the tribes split after Solomon's death. Together they formed the southern kingdom of Judah, which at one time included Edom to the southeast.

The Land Division. Except for Simeon, Judah was the southernmost tribe of the Israelites. However, Simeon seems to have been absorbed into Judah at an early date. Judah's eastern border was the Dead Sea, and its western border was the Mediterranean Sea, although the Philistines usually controlled the plain along the sea. Originally, Judah's northern boundary ran from just south of Jerusalem northwest to Kirjath Jearim and Jabneel. To the south Judah's border ran south to the Ascent of Akrabbim, to the Wilderness of Zin, and south from Kadesh Barnea to the Mediterranean. At its longest point Judah was about 153 kilometers (95 miles) in length. At its widest point it was about 45 miles wide, excluding the area controlled by the Philistines. During the period of the divided kingdom, its northern boundary ran north of Jerusalem. Together with Benjamin they formed the southern kingdom of Judah, which at one time included Edom to the southeast.

The Man Judah

Heb. Yehuda, "the Lord be praised"; The word comes from the root meaning "to throw a stone" or "to extend the hands" as in worship.

Gen 29:35 And Leah conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and whole brother to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (older brothers), and Issachar and Zebulun (younger brothers).

In the situation with Joseph, Judah recommended that his brothers sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites instead of taking his life:

Gen 37:26-27 So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? "Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened.

After this Judah moved to Adullam and married the daughter of a Caananite, by whom he had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er married a woman whose name was Tamar, but he died childless. Judah then gave Tamar to his second son, Onan, who also died without children. Judah was reluctant to bestow his only surviving son upon this woman and told her to wait until the boy became of age to marry (38:1-11).

One very interesting event that happened in the life of Judah was with Tamar. When she heard that Judah was going to Timnah, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot and, sitting along the roadside, met Judah and became pregnant by him. The result was the birth of two sons, Zerah and Perez (38:12-30). Perez was in the lineage of the Messiah.

Also in the situation with Joseph, when Joseph was ruling in Egypt and there was a famine and it became necessary to go a second time into Egypt for food, he argued with Jacob for not allowing Benjamin to go with them and agreed to be responsible for his safety (Gen. 43:3-10). Also when the cup was found in Benjamin's sack and punishment from the ruler of Egypt seemed imminent, Judah's explanation for his father and brothers and his offer of himself as slave so moved Joseph that he could no longer keep his secret and began to weep (44:16-34).

It was also Judah who was sent by Jacob to smooth the way for him in the land of Goshen (46:28). Nothing more is said of him until he received, along with his brothers, the final blessing of his father (49:8-12).