Tribe of Judah
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
- in the division of the Promised Land, Judah received its most extensive and important portion, from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea and from the Brook of Egypt to the borders of Ephraim. Its inheritance contained very many cities (Josh 15), though some later passed to Simeon, Dan, and Benjamin (Josh 19:1-9). Nine of the cities were given to priests (Josh 21:9-19). According to tradition, the tribe's emblem was a lion's tail with the inscription: 'Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered.'