The phrase "Until Shiloh comes" has perplexed scholars for many centuries. They offer many explanations. One, it is possible to read the phrase that the "scepter shall not depart from Judah until Judah comes to Shiloh." Two, the Hebrew consonants can be divided into two well-known words, which mean "tribute to him." Three, an early variant of the Masoretic text, shortening the spelling of the consonants, yields either "till what is his comes" or "until he comes, to whom [it belongs.]" Ezekiel uses a similar phrase in chapter 21, in which he predicts the coming Messiah. Either way, it is a glorious prediction of the coming of Christ, our savior.
Jacob goes on to describe the prosperity and fierce judgment of this coming King in verses 11-12. "Binding a donkey to a vine" is of no concern to the King because, even if the donkey chews through the vine, there are so many clusters of grapes that it is of no concern. "Washing his garments in wine" is similar. There will be such an abundance of grapes that those stamping out the juice will not get a drop or two on their garments, but they will be soaked. A delightful demonstration of such abundance is seen in our Lord's first miracle at the wedding in Cana.
The image then moves to the power of the king, who is also a judge. His clothes are stained "in the blood of grapes," a common metaphor for Christ's vengeance, especially in Isaiah 63 and Revelation 19.
Finally, there are descriptions of the beauty of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah: "His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk."
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
