Interpretations of the Statement in Genesis 49:10
Jacob made the statement in Genesis 49:10, "until Shiloh arrives," when he was telling his sons and their offspring their futures and fates. Leah made the direct remark to Judah, Jacob's fourth son, and it has been the subject of numerous interpretations for generations. According to Goldstain (1990), the expression alludes to the arrival of the Messiah, who is actually Jesus of Nazareth.
The Meaning of Shiloh
Although Shiloh's precise meaning is unknown, it can be interpreted as meaning "of him" when read as "shelo" in Hebrew. Referring to the coming of him whom the scepter belongs. The statement of Ezekiel 21:27, "until he comes whose right it is," tends to refer to the coming of Shiloh as the coming of the messiah who has the right to rule over all the nations of Israel (Goldstain,1990). That means the coming of Jesus from the tribe of Judah was prophesized by Jacob in the phrase "until Shiloh comes."
Christian and Jewish Interpretations
Christians and Jews believe the statement refers to the coming of the Messiah. Though for the Orthodox Jews, the Messiah called Shiloh, has not yet come, while Christians believe the prophecy came to pass with the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth (Jackson, 2017). The term "Shiloh" has been interpreted in several ways, including to mean "the one sent out" and "peace giver." These interpretations may be considered personal titles of Jesus, and therefore, Shiloh can be taken to refer to the Messiah whom, according to Christians, had already come (Jackson, 2017). Further and modern understandings of the phrase insinuate that the rule of Judah shall continue until the return of Jesus on earth to destroy the evil and take with him the righteous. The contemporary perception of the prophecy by millennialists suggests that the Messiah would in the future come and reign for one thousand years.
The Coming of the Ideal Ruler
In the book, Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible, Pentiuc (2006) explains that the phrase "until Shiloh comes" refers to the coming of the Messiah after a series of rule by the House of Judah. When the whole verse is read, the meaning comes out as a prophecy of the coming of the ideal ruler of all the nations of Israel, and until that king comes, the religious legality and leadership will remain in the house of Judah. While the name Shiloh has also been defined to mean Moses, the fact that the Messiah referred to in Genesis 49:10 is foretold to arrive at the last line and be the last king from the house of Judah rules out Moses as the one referred to by Jacob. Instead, the only last king in the lineage of Judah who comes from the house of David is Jesus of Nazareth (Pentiuc, 2006).
Conclusion
I believe the interpretation that is dominant in all the sources used in this paper points out the coming of the Messiah. I concur with all the author's perception that the Shiloh referred to in Genesis 49:10 is Jesus the Messiah. Biblical evidence shows that the house of Judah produced the kings, including King David, and Jesus was born from the house of David. Moreover, the arrival of Jesus ended the rule of the house of Judah and provided a king that would be obeyed by all the tribes of Israel. The statement, however, cannot be taken to refer to the supposed second coming of Jesus and a possible rule of a century in the future. The prophecy of Jacob had passed just like almost all the prophets in the Bible referred to the coming of the Messiah who also turned out to be Jesus of Nazareth.
References
Goldstain, E. (1990). Jacob's Prophecies - Jews for Jesus. Jews for Jesus. Retrieved 4 July 2017, from https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/newsletter-mar-1990/jacob-s-prophecies/
Jackson, W. (2017). Who Is the Mysterious Shiloh? Christian Courier. Retrieved 4 July 2017, from https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1101-who-is-the-mysterious-shiloh
Pentiuc, E. (2006). Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible. New York: Paulist Press.
