John Calvin Commentary Genesis 49:8

"Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise: Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; Thy father`s sons shall bow down before thee." — Genesis 49:8 (ASV)

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise. In the word "praise" there is an allusion to the name of Judah, for so he had been called by his mother because his birth had given occasion for praising God. The father adduces a new etymology, because his name would be so celebrated and illustrious among his brothers that he would be honored by them all equally with the first-born. The double portion, indeed, which he recently assigned to his son Joseph, depended on the right of primogeniture; but because the kingdom was transferred to the tribe of Judah, Jacob properly pronounces that his name should be held worthy of praise.

For the honor of Joseph was temporary, but here a stable and durable kingdom is considered, which was to be under the authority of the sons of Judah. From this we gather that when God intended to institute a perfect state of government among his people, the monarchical form was chosen by him.

And while the appointment of a king under the law was partly to be attributed to the will of man and partly to the divine decree, this combination of human with divine agency must be related to the commencement of the monarchy, which was inauspicious because the people had tumultuously desired that a king be given to them before the proper time had arrived.

Therefore, their unseemly haste was why the kingdom was not immediately set up in the tribe of Judah but was brought forth, as an abortive offspring, in the person of Saul. Yet eventually, by the favor and in the legitimate order of God, the preeminence of the tribe of Judah was established in the person of David.

Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. In these words he shows that Judah would not be free from enemies; but although many would give him trouble and would endeavor to deprive him of his right, Jacob promises him victory. This did not mean that the sons of David would always prevail against their enemies (for their ingratitude interfered with the constant and equable course of the grace of God), but in this respect, at least, Judah had the superiority, in that in his tribe stood the royal throne which God approved and which was founded on his word.

For though the kingdom of Israel was more flourishing in wealth and in number of inhabitants, yet because it was spurious, it was not the object of God’s favor; nor indeed was it right that, by its tinselled splendor, it should eclipse the glory of the Divine election which was engraved upon the tribe of Judah.

In David, therefore, the force and effect of this prophecy plainly appeared, and then again in Solomon. Afterwards, although the kingdom was mutilated, yet it was wonderfully preserved by the hand of God; otherwise, in a short time, it would have perished a hundred times.

Thus it came about that the children of Judah imposed their yoke upon their enemies. Although defection carried away ten tribes, which would not bow their knees to the sons of David, and the legitimate government was in this way disturbed and lawless confusion introduced, yet nothing could violate the decree of God, by which the right to govern remained with the tribe of Judah.