d _by_ Abraham; it cannot
account for the constant, solemn repetition of this proclamation which
everywhere appears as the _acme_ of the promises given to the
Patriarch; it destroys the correspondence existing between this
blessing upon all the families of the earth, and the curse which, after
the fall, was inflicted upon the earth; it does away with the contrast,
so clearly marked, between the union of the families of the earth
effected by the blessing, and their dispersion, narrated in chap. xi.;
it demolishes the connection existing between the prophecy of Japheth's
dwelling in the tents of Shem (ix. 27), on the one hand, and the Ruler
proceeding from Judah, to whom shall be the obedience of the nations
(xlix. 10), on the other; and it severs all the necessary connecting
links which unite these prophecies with one another.

Another attempt to deprive this promise of its Messianic
character--that, namely, made by _Bertholdt_ (_de ortu theol. Vet.
Hebr._ p. 102) and others, who would have us to understand, by the
families and nations of the earth, the Canaanitish nations--does not
require any minute examination, as the weakness of these productions of
rationalistic tendency are so glaringly manifest.

Footnote 1: _Herder_ says, in his _Briefe das Studium der Theol._ betr.
ii. S. 278: "If, in Abraham's descendants, all the nations of the earth
were to be blessed, Abraham might and should have conceived of this
blessing in all its generality, so that everything whereby his nation
deserved well of the nations of the earth, was implied in it. If, then,
Christ also belongs to the number of those noble individuals who
deserved so well, the blessing refers to Him, not _indirectly_, but
_directly_; and if Christ be the chief of all this number, it then most
directly, and in preference to all others, refers to Him;--although, in
this germ, Abraham did not distinctly perceive His person, did not, nor
could, except by special revelation, in this bud, so plainly discover
the full growth of His merits."

Footnote 2: Even in this he was preceded by _Lampe_, who remarks:
"Christ had spoken of seeing the day; the Jews speak about seeing the
person. He had spoken of Abraham's seeing; they speak of Christ's
seeing."

[Pg 57]

THE BLESSING OF JACOB UPON JUDAH.
(Gen. xlix. 8-10.)

Ver. 8. "_Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall
be on the neck of thine enemi