Genesis 49:10

The sceptre. The scepter is a symbol of royal authority. In its earliest form it was a long staff that the king held in his hand when speaking in public assemblies, but that rested between his knees when he sat upon his throne. Such scepters are depicted in various ancient Egyptian reliefs. Judah was to continue as leader among the tribes until the time of the coming of the Messiah.

Until Shiloh come. Neither the explanation of Shiloh as a place name nor the interpretation as “rest” is convincing. However, the majority of commentators have believed Shiloh to be a personal name, and agree that the person referred to is the Messiah. This view, expressed long ago by both Jewish and Christian scholars, is correct (see DA 52). As to the exact significance of the word Shiloh, however, interpreters are by no means agreed. It has been variously explained to mean “offspring,” “the one sent out,” “he to whom it [the scepter of the kingdom] belongs,” and “the rest giver.” The last interpretation of the word Shiloh, as “rest giver,” is favored by more commentators than any of the others and is endorsed by Ellen G. White (DA 52). Shiloh, therefore, is the Messiah, who in Jacob’s prophecy was to take over Judah’s royal prerogatives as leader of Israel and to whom all nations would gather.