The Tribes of Israel Reconsidered, The new way into the New Jerusalem - the way of Judah

by Rev. Michaël Merle

​The fourth son of Jacob (Israel) is Judah, whose name means the acknowledged leader. Judah’s name (Yehuda יהודה) includes the four letters (that make up the Tetragrammaton, YHWH יהוה) that are in the name of the mighty Divine being who leads the nation tribe (family and their descendants) of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the people of Israel. Although the fourth born son, Judah is the leader whose descendants would become the kings of Israel, beginning with King David. The way or path of Judah, is the path of leadership. This was recognised from the time of Judah and his brothers as a path of selflessness – which is a most vital ingredient in true leadership. We know from the genealogies in both Matthew and Luke that the boy Jesus is a descendant of the tribe of Judah. The symbol most commonly associated with Judah is the Lion. This references Judah as a leader and father to kings, as the lion is considered a king among the animals and represents strength and majesty. The association was made by Jacob in recognising these qualities in his fourth son. This symbolic association also links Judah to the spiritual powers and forces in the constellation of Leo. The ancient world appreciated the great power of this constellation. The way of Judah is for the Lion to lie down with the Lamb – the power of Leo to align with the power of Aries. In Jesus Christ the descendant of Judah lays down his life in the sacrificial act that John the Baptist recognises when proclaiming him as The Lamb of God.