Tribe of judah in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is the Tribe of Judah?
TRIBE OF JU'DAH
the largest of the tribes that came out of Egypt. Num 1:27. Judah, by reason of its size, and conscious, too, of the prophecy of the dying Jacob, Gen 49:8-12, assumed the position of leader. It was manifestly under the divine favor. When Moses gave his blessing upon the tribes, he said of Judah, "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hand be sufficient for him; and be thou a help to him from his enemies," Deut 33:7 -- a prayer that God would help Judah successfully to lead the tribes. The tribe sent as their spy the faithful Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. Num 13:6. In the conquest Judah led, but the history only touches upon three points which particularly affected this tribe: (1) Achan was of Judah, Josh 7:1, Josh 7:16-18; (2) Caleb's conquest of Hebron, Josh 14:6-15; and (3) Othniel's (the nephew and son-inlaw of Caleb) conquest of Debir. Josh 15:13-19. These are the only instances of the special reservation of any portion of the country to its conquerors. Judah received the first allotment on the partition of the territory. Josh 15:1. Upon the death of Joshua, Judah undertook with Simeon the conquest of the interior. Jud 1:1-3. Judah seems to have been unmolested during the greater part of the period of the Judges. This state of things may have lessened its interest in the troubles of other tribes; at all events, Judah did not take much, if any, part in the different wars, except on the first occasion, when Othniel, who was a Judite, delivered Israel from Chushan-rishathaim. Jud 3:9. He was the only judge from this tribe, unless the Bethlehem from which Ibzan came be Bethlehem-Judah. It is markworthy that although Judah did not assist Barak, Deborah does not rebuke them. In the destruction of the Benjamites, Judah was selected by God to head the other tribes. Jud 20:18. In fact, Judah was independent, self-contained, strong, and determined all through its history. It was a nation in itself. It absorbed some of the surrounding peoples, as the Kenites, Jud 1:16; cf. 1 Sam 15:6; 1 Sam 30:29, and the Jerahmeelites. 1 Sam 27:10; 1 Sam 30:29. From the Kenites came Jael, Jud 4:17, and the Rechabites. 1 Chr 2:55. When the choice of the king fell upon a man of Benjamin, Judah may have been displeased; at all events, they preserved during Saul's reign a very independent position, but when Saul was dead they with others offered the crown to David, who was of their own flesh and blood. Under Solomon they were quiet, although heavily taxed, because they held the greater proportion of the state appointments. With the revolt of Jeroboam the history of Judah as a tribe ceases; their history as a kingdom begins, for which, see Judah, Kingdom AND Territory of.

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