Jacob's fourth son by Leah, and the tribe descended from him — the ROYAL and messianic line. Born with the cry 'this time I will praise (odeh) Jehovah' (Genesis 29:35), Judah rises over his brothers: he saves Joseph's life, offers himself as surety for Benjamin, and receives Jacob's deathbed blessing that 'the scepter shall not depart from Judah' (Genesis 49:10). At the wilderness census his tribe is the largest of all (74,600 fighting men, Numbers 1:27) and takes the place of honor: it camps on the east and marches at the head of the army (Numbers 2:3, 9), led by the chieftain Nahshon. From Judah come David, the kings of Jerusalem, and — the New Testament announces — 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah' (Revelation 5:5); the very word 'Jew' is worn down from the name Judah.