The Shiloh Prophecy Unveiled: Herod, the Departure of Judah's Scepter, and the Eternal Kingship of Christ

 

   A lesser known messianic prophecy in the book of Genesis, known as the "Shiloh Prophecy" sheds significant light on the timing of the messianic age. The prophecy reads, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people."  

    This prophecy connects the coming of Shiloh, identified as a person, to a time when the scepter, a symbol of rule, passed out of the control of Judah. This verse is part of Jacob's blessings and prophecies for his sons before his death. Each of Jacob's sons receives a specific blessing or prophecy, and in the case of Judah, Jacob foretells the continuity of royal authority within the tribe until the arrival of Shiloh, a figure long interpreted as the Messiah.

Passing the Scepter

    This begs the question, did the scepter ever pass from Judah? The traditional interpretation is that the scepter departed from Judah with the Roman conquest and occupation of Judea, specifically during the rule of King Herod the Great, who was appointed by the Romans. Herod the Great was not ethnically Jewish, nor a direct descendant of the tribe of Judah, but was a foreigner of Edomite lineage. Eusebius records it like this in his Ecclesiastical History, Book 1 Chapter 6: 

"Herod, the first foreigner, as I have already said, was made King of the Jewish nation by the Roman senate and by Augustus."

    Once this rule was passed onto a foreigner, a messianic fervor ignited in Israel, knowing the expectation that the Messiah's coming would be imminent. This sentiment is expressed in Luke 2:22-38 in the admiration of Simeon and the Prophetess Anna:

"...Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ..."

    Herod the Great was given the title of "King of the Jews." Jesus Christ, being born at the latter end of Herod the Great's reign, was also given this title, but in his case, it was due to the fact that the "scepter" had truly passed to him instead, who was of the Tribe of Judah, and a descendant of David, who was promised, "your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever" (2 Sam. 7:12-16). 

The Meaning of Shiloh

"...Until Shiloh comes, to Him shall be the obedience of the people."

    Shiloh is clearly described as a man, but what does Shiloh actually mean? There is some debate among scholars, however, there are two contenders:

    1. "He whose right it is" or "to whom it belongs," implying a ruler or leader who has the rightful claim.

    2. Alternatively, it could be related to the Hebrew word for "peace" and thereby mean something like "bringer of peace."

    

    Either of these meanings, and perhaps both as a double entendre, would apply to Jesus as a descendent of the tribe of Judah, of the house of David, but also as the foretold "prince of peace." (Isa. 9:6)

    Those familiar with the Old Testament will notice that Shiloh is also mentioned as a specific location where the Israelites set up the Tabernacle once they were established in the Promised Land. The Tabernacle was a temporary tent sanctuary set up for the presence of God to dwell.

    In this way, it also serves as a metaphor for Christ, who was the very presence of God for a time in our midst. This connection is specifically alluded to in John 1:14, which states:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

    In this verse, the term "dwelt" is translated from the Greek word "eskenosen," which can be translated as "tabernacled" or "pitched his tent." This emphasizes the idea that Jesus, being the Word incarnate, pitched the tent of his flesh in this world, filled with the Divine Presence, evoking the image of the temporary dwelling of the presence of God in the Tabernacle of the wilderness. He represents Shiloh. He is the Shiloh.

The Shiloh Timeframe

    Overall, the Shiloh Prophecy is valuable because it not only provides very early detail (book of Genesis) that the Messiah would Himself be the Divine Presence, but also provides a clear time frame for when the fulfillment would occur. 

    

    The coming of Messiah will be when the rule passes from the tribe of Judah. Daniel 9:24-27 also foretells that following the Messiah's death, the city and the sanctuary, the Second Temple, would be destroyed, which occurred in 70 AD. So, in the broadest possible terms, Messiah could only come within a span of 107 years, from 37 BC when Herod became King, to 70 AD when the Temple was destroyed. Jesus Christ came precisely within that time frame. No other messianic figure within these limits had lasting historical influence. And yet, according to this timeline, the messiah must have already come.

The Eternal Kingship of Christ

    Ultimately, the Shiloh Prophecy illustrates a time when the reign of temporal human rulers would be overtaken by the eternal Kingship of the Christ. Rather than continuing the story of failed or imperfect rulers, it looked forward to the hope when God would pitch His tent among His people, at a time and location of His own choosing, to proclaim a new and eternal Kingdom whose citizens are representative out of every kindred, tribe and tongue. Jesus Christ has done just that.

Hallelujah.