7 Fascinating Facts About Judah, Son of Jacob

1. Judah, son of Jacob, was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. In Jacob's blessing, he was designated for kingship. His actions toward Joseph and his brothers led his father to choose him as the leader of Jacob's descendants. King David, a prominent descendent, was the first king of Judah, with all of Israel's people named Jews after him.

2. According to Seder Olam Rabbah, Judah was born in Jacob's tenth year in Haran, in the year 2360 from creation, on the 15th of Sivan. He passed away at the age of 119.

3. Leah chose his name: “This time I will praise Hashem; therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.” Rashi commented: "Since I have taken more than my share, from now on, I must offer thanks." Midrash Rabbah notes, "in any place 'therefore' is used, it indicates an abundance." Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra emphasized the verse's latter part: "After having four sons, I will praise Hashem, for I do not desire more. As if to say: I will thank Hashem for giving me all this and it should suffice. Hence, 'she stopped having children'."

Leah's gratefulness for Judah's birth is particularly notable. Initially, she believed that since Jacob would have twelve tribes, each of his four wives would bear three. Seeing other mothers not bearing three children, Leah realized she should offer thanks for her previous children, proclaiming upon Judah’s birth: "This time I will thank Hashem." The profound lesson for generations: everything we possess comes as free gifts.

In Midrash Rabbah, it's said the deeds of ancestors serve as signs for descendants. As stated: "Leah took the path of gratitude, from her emerged those who show gratitude — Judah: 'Judah recognized and said, she is more righteous than I', David said: 'Give thanks to Hashem, for he is good'."

4. Jacob's blessing states: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him shall be the obedience of peoples.” Rashi interprets Shiloh as the king Messiah whose kingship he holds. Jacob informed his sons that Israel's leadership up to the Messiah's arrival would be led by Judah's descendants. Thus, even post-destruction, leaders from the tribe of Judah guided Israel.

5. Ramban also addresses the Hasmonean monarchy: “This was the punishment of the Hasmoneans who reigned during the Second Temple, for though they were pious saints, without them Torah and commandments would have been forgotten in Israel, they suffered severe punishment. Despite their prowess, the four saintly sons of the elder Hasmonean who ruled successively fell by the sword to their enemies. The end punishment was not lasting since they reigned without being from Judah and the House of David, wherein they completely removed the scepter and the lawgiver. Their punishment was measure for measure as Hashem set rulers over them and they were eradicated.”

6. Rabbeinu Bachya writes: “In Judah’s blessing there is no letter Zayin, because the Kingdom of Israel does not rely primarily on weapons or natural order, but on merit through divine power.”

7. The territory of the tribe of Judah was assigned by Joshua son of Nun, after completing the conquest of Canaan along with other tribal allocations. Kalai comments that Judah's boundary description is among the clearest. The southern border of their territory, also the southern boundary of the tribes of Israel, includes geographic features like "the sea" or "the River of Egypt," areas like "the Desert of Zin," and boundaries like "the border of Edom." The tribe's inheritance included Simeon's portion, totaling 48 cities — the largest number given to any single tribe.