day two: Christ, Shiloh
/Readings: Genesis 49:8-12, Leviticus 3, Ephesians 2:13-18
The twelve sons of Jacob gather at their father’s deathbed, in preparation for the beloved patriarch of a nation to pass away. But first, the one who once wrestled with God Himself must give a prophetic word concerning each of his sons.
Reuben first—firstborn, but destined to be overshadowed because of his sin (Genesis 35:22). The Simeon and Levi are cursed to be forever scattered in Israel because of theirs (Genesis 34). Then, Judah—powerful Judah, lionlike, royal, and blessed.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes.
Genesis 49:10
Many translations of the Bible don’t use the word “Shiloh”—instead making reference to “one to whom [the scepter] belongs”—but they all agree that the word, which is used only this one time in the entirety of Scripture, is a Messianic title. Jacob, thousands of years before Christ, prophesies that when He comes, He will come through the family line of Judah.
As with any word that is only used once in such an ancient text as the Bible, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact meaning behind the name Shiloh. However, we can tell that it has its roots in the word shalah—the same root from which Hebrew speakers get their greeting “Shalom,” a salutation of peace. In their language, the concept of peace means much more than just tranquility of circumstances or mind. It refers to actual “rightness”—the making right of that which was out of balance, or the making whole of that which was fragmented.
For example, Hebrew speakers today use this term to refer to the balancing of accounts or payment of a bill—when things are “as they should be.” Likewise, in Leviticus 3, the shelmim or peace offering functions as a symbol of being “as we should be” with God, a gesture of alliance or friendship through giving back to Him from what He has given. This offering is also aptly called the “fellowship offering”—since fellowship with God comes from being right with Him.
So who is this Shiloh, the rightful owner of the throne of Judah?
He is the One who makes right—the One who addresses the void between us and God, who makes the fatal gesture of alliance that we never could have made ourselves, who pays our debt in full. He is the only Restorer of the relationship we forfeited in Eden.
