For it is evidentthat our Lordwas descendedfrom Judah,a tribewith referenceto whichMosesspokenothingconcerningpriests.
The sonsof Judah:Erand Onanand Shelahand Perezand Zerah(but Erand Onandiedin the landof Canaan).And the sonsof Perezwere Hezronand Hamul.
"The sceptershall not departfrom Judah,Northe ruler'sstafffrom betweenhis feet,UntilShilohcomes,And to him [shall be] the obedienceof the peoples.
Then a shootwill springfrom the stemof Jesse,And a branchfrom his rootswill bearfruit.
"But as for you, BethlehemEphrathah,[Too] littleto be among the clansof Judah,From you One will goforthfor Me to be rulerin Israel.His goingsforthare from longago,From the daysof eternity."
"I seehim, but not now;I beholdhim, but not near;A starshall comeforth from Jacob,A sceptershall risefrom Israel,And shall crushthroughthe foreheadof Moab,And teardownallthe sonsof Sheth.
AND YOU, BETHLEHEM,LANDOF JUDAH,ARE BY NO MEANSLEASTAMONGTHE LEADERSOF JUDAH;FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTHA RULERWHOWILL SHEPHERDMY PEOPLEISRAEL.'"
"And howhas it [happened] to me, that the motherof my Lordwould cometo me?
the son of Amminadab,the son of Admin,the son of Ram,the son of Hezron,the son of Perez,the son of Judah,
And they saidto her, "Woman,whyare you weeping?"She saidto them, "Becausethey have taken awaymy Lord,and I do not knowwherethey have laidHim."
Thomasansweredand saidto Him, "My Lordand my God!"
concerningHis Son,who was bornof a descendantof Davidaccordingto the flesh,
But do you supposethis,Oman,when you pass judgmenton thosewho practicesuch thingsand dothe same[yourself], that you will escapethe judgmentof God?
Blessed[be] the Godand Fatherof our LordJesusChrist,who has blessedus with everyspiritualblessingin the heavenly[places] in Christ,
More thanthat, I countallthingsto be lossin viewof the surpassing valueof knowingChristJesusmy Lord,for whomI have suffered the lossof all things,and countthem but rubbishsothat I may gainChrist,
For the one concerningwhomthese thingsare spokenbelongsto anothertribe,from whichno onehas officiatedat the altar.
And this is clearerstill,ifanotherpriestarisesaccordingto the likenessof Melchizedek,
"I, Jesus,have sentMy angelto testifyto you these thingsfor the churches.I amthe rootand the descendantof David,the brightmorningstar."
and oneof the elderssaidto me, "Stopweeping;behold,the Lionthat is from the tribeof Judah,the Rootof David,has overcomeso as to openthe bookand its sevenseals."
