Wellspring Israel

*Numbers 2:2-3: “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard…On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadav shall be the leader of the children of Judah.”

The tribe of Judah, along with Issachar and Zebulun, was to camp facing the East. The Hebrew root for Juday is related to hands or arms raised in the giving of praise or thanks (Gen 29:35). Judah was to camp on the side of the Tabernacle facing eastward—as though to “awaken the dawn” with praise (Ps 57:8). Psalm 63:1-4 bears a beautiful picture of this holy principal being demonstrated hundreds of years later by David. He is also “in a desert” –and his Hebrew literally says, “Elohim, my God are you, I will ‘dawn’ you (i.e. seek You early)…my lips shall praise you…I will lift up the palms of my hands in Your name.”

Numbers 10:14, will show that the tribe of Judah was also God’s choice to be in the lead when the camp broke up and moved forward. Hundreds of years after David, Jehoshophat, heading out to engage an overwhelming foe (II Chron. 20:21) would place singers and praisers in front of his army, singing “Hodu la’Adonai ki tov, ki le-olam hasdo!” (“Give thanks with the raising of your hands to the LORD for He is good, for to forever is his lovingkindness!”).

A tribe epitomizing thanksgiving and praise, Judah is also the “royal tribe” which must always come first, from whom a scepter would arise which would never depart. From this tribe would come the King of Kings, Yeshua/Jesus—of whom Jacob had prophesied that his brothers would praise, and his father’s children bow down before Him (Genesis 49:8)! Zechariah 12:10 prophecies the repentance and renewal of “the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem”—yet 12:7 reveals that first must come salvation of the “tents of Judah.”