Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 177:705 (Jan 2020)
Article: The Blessing Of Judah As Generative Expectation
Author: Gary Edward Schnittjer

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The Blessing Of Judah As Generative Expectation

Gary Edward Schnittjer

Gary Edward Schnittjer is Professor of Old Testament, School of Divinity, Cairn University, Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

As authors of Scripture cite and interpret earlier passages of Scripture, they create networks of expectation. The blessing of Judah in Genesis, for example, sparked advances and expectations in Balaam’s oracles, 2 Samuel 7:14–15, Ezekiel 19:10–14, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 2:7–9, and 1 Chronicles 28:4 that together lead to the gospel of Messiah. Examining such networks of expectation offers insight into the dynamics of progressive revelation.

Introduction

By nearly any standard, authors of Scripture seem soaked through with Scripture. This deep investment leads to the natural continuity that runs through Scripture and at times generates breathtaking advances. An example is seen in the expectations that develop from the blessing of Judah in Genesis 49:8–12. Every line of this blessing houses suggestive connotations. These connotations, when combined with fulfillments and new expectations elsewhere in Scripture, generate further expectations for the Judah-king. As these build on each other, they create a network of progressive revelation leading to the gospel of Messiah.

After introducing the blessing of Judah in Genesis, the present study briefly evaluates expectations that grow from this scriptural tradition. These include parts of Balaam’s third and fourth oracles, part of the Davidic covenant presented by Nathan, a dark parody in Ezekiel 19, a prequel to the blessing of Judah in Zechariah 9:9, the blending of the blessing of Judah with Balaam’s oracle of the star and the Davidic covenant in Psalm 2, and the blending of the blessing of Judah with the Davidic covenant in David’s address in

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1 Chronicles 28. These and more give rise to the New Testament’s use of the network of Judah-king expectations. After surveying these individually, this article will summarize the function of the Judah-king network of scriptural expectations.

The following translation and notes can serve as a reference for the discussion that follows.<...