JSynon said:
Greetings,
I was wondering why Shiloh in Genesis 49:10 is interpreted as Jesus. Could it not be Moses?
Basically, "Shiloh" in Genesis 49:10 was seen by many Jews before Jesus came as a title for the Messiah. Moses and the Israelites with him were looking forward to a promised land. The context of Gen 49:10 though argues for a future time of tremendous prosperity. The contextual description points toward the future and not Israel's past in the desert.
There are several interpretative options here, which are brought out by various translations:
NIV The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs* and the obedience of the nations is his.
*NIV alternate {10 Or until Shiloh comes; or until he comes to whom tribute belongs}
NAU Genesis 49:10 "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes*, And (b)to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
*NAU alternate Or Until he comes to Shiloh; or Until he comes to whom it belongs
NET Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.
The NET text notes on the term is helpful:
tn The Hebrew form hloyvi is a major interpretive problem. There are at least four major options (with many variations and less likely alternatives): (1) Some prefer to leave the text as it is, reading "Shiloh" and understanding it as the place where the ark rested for a while in the time of the Judges (see D. E. Schley, Shiloh [JSOTSup]). (2) By repointing the text others arrive at the translation "until the [or "his"] ruler comes," a reference to a Davidic ruler or the Messiah. (3) Another possibility that does not require emendation of the consonantal text, but only repointing, is "until tribute is brought to him" (so NEB, JPS, NRSV), which has the advantage of providing good parallelism with the following line, "the nations will obey him." (4) The interpretation followed in the present translation, "to whom it [belongs]" (so RSV, NIV, REB), is based on the ancient versions. Again, this would refer to the Davidic dynasty or, ultimately, to the Messiah.
Lamorak Des Galis