while those who appear before their fellows as the greatest conquerors have

suffered the greatest of defeats.

'Through weakness and defeat,

He won the mead and crown,

Trod all His foes beneath His feet

By being trodden down'.

Three features are emphasized in this prophecy:

Up to this prophetic utterance of Jacob there is no hint that Royal

dignity was to be associated with Judah.  The words 'until Shiloh come',

while being interpreted in a number of ways, must refer to a person.  John

seized upon the meaning of the word 'Siloam' in John 9:7, namely 'sent' and

'The Sent One' is a dominant title of Christ in that Gospel.

Previous to the coming of Christ, Judah enjoyed the pre -eminence, but

after that event, the crown and the natural pre -eminence passed.

We find too that Simeon was indeed 'divided in Jacob, and scattered in

Israel', the inheritance of Simeon falling within the bounds of Judah.

Reuben the firstborn also, instead of enjoying a central position, finds his

inheritance on the other side of Jordan.

The value of this initial prophecy of the last days is that we can see

that some if not all of the forecasts have had a primary fulfilment,

anticipating the fuller realization and the end of the days.  Balaam also,

even though unwillingly, looked down the ages and said, 'I will advertise

thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days ... there

shall come a Star ... and a Sceptre' (Num. 24:14,17).  The Prophetic Song of

Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy 32, and references to the last days are also

found in Deuteronomy 4:30; 8:16 and 31:29.

Coming to the Prophets themselves, Isaiah 2:2 -5 opens the record, and

Micah 4:1 -4 closes the list with almost identical words.  The references to

the latter days and the last end that intervene, are of secondary interest as

an examination of the passages in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel will show,

leaving the references in the book of Daniel, and the one reference in Hosea

to fill up the story of restoring grace thus:

A

Isaiah 2:2 -5.

The last days.  The Mountain of the Lord's house. Many nations

will go.  The law shall go forth of Zion.  Nation shall not lift

up a sword against nation, neither learn war any more.

The house of Jacob is called upon to 'walk in the light of the Lord'.

B

The last end and latter times of Daniel.

B

The return of Israel after their long lo -ammi estrangement

(Hosea 3:5).

The words quoted above are repeated in Micah, until we come to

verse 4.  Then it adds the peaceful figure of sitting under vine