Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 49:9

9 Judah is a lions whelp : from the prey, my son, thou art gone up : he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion : who shall rouse him up ?

(i. e.) Is as a lions whelp, or, as a young lion, for courage and strength, and terrour to his enemies. The particle as is here wanting, as also ver. 14, 17, 21, 22. and in many other places, as Psal. 11. 1. and 12. 6. and 22. 6. &c. And he is rightly compared first to a lions whelp, then to an old lion, to signifie the growth of that Tribe in strength and interest, and that from small beginnings, and a precedency of order onely Judg. 1. 1, 2. it should ascend to the height of honour and power and happiness in David, and especially in the Messiah, who should conquer all nations.

Having taken the prey, i. e. conquered thine enemies thou art gone up in triumph; or gone up, i. e. grown greater and higher after thy victories, as the manner is. Or he alludes to the Lions, which usually dwell in mountains, as diverse writers observe, and come down to prey in the valleys, and when they have got their prey, they go up to their habitations, and so shall Judah do.

A change of the person very frequent in Prophetical writings, as we shall o[illegible: 1+ letters]t have occasion to note hereafter.

When he hath taken the prey, he doth not convey it away to his den with haste and speed for fear the enemy should return and overtake him, but like a lion he stoops down to feed upon his prey, and coucheth or lieth down securely to rest himself after he hath eaten it without the lest fear of any enemy, as it is observed of him, Isa. 31. 4. Judahs conquests shall not be interrupted or followed with ill successes, and defeats or overthrows afterward, as it frequently happens in the course of War, but he shall quietly possess his spoils, and after the bloody Wars to which he will be forced, shall enjoy a sweet peace and tranquillity, which his posterity did, 1 King. 4. 25.

Of rather a grown lion, not a decrepit and impotent Lion, but one come to his full strength.

Who shall presume or dare to disturb or provoke him? All shall fear him and seek peace with him.

Marginal references: Num. 23. 24. and 24. 9.