I. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah. The word 2aw
shebet, which we translate a sceptre, signifies ἃ rod or staff of any
kind; and particularly the rod or staff which * belonged to. each
tribe as an ensign of their authority; and thence it is transferred to
signify a tribe, as being united under one rod or staff of government,
or a ruler of a tribe; and in this sense it is used twice in this ve
chapter, (ver. 16.) Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes or
rulers of Israel; and again (ver. 28.) All these are the twelve tribes
or rulers of Israe/. It hath the same signification in 2 Sam. vii. 7.
