In his deathbed blessing of his sons, the patriarch Jacob foretold: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong. ”
يُولَدُ ٱلْمَسِيَّا مِنْ سِبْطِ يَهُوذَا .‏ حِينَ كَانَ ٱلْأَبُ ٱلْجَلِيلُ يَعْقُوبُ يُبَارِكُ أَبْنَاءَهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى فِرَاشِ ٱلْمَوْتِ ،‏ أَنْبَأَ قَائِلًا :‏ « لَا يَزُولُ ٱلصَّوْلَجَانُ مِنْ يَهُوذَا وَلَا عَصَا ٱلْقِيَادَةِ مِنْ بَيْنِ قَدَمَيْهِ ،‏ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَ شِيلُوهُ ،‏ وَلَهُ تَكُونُ طَاعَةُ ٱلشُّعُوبِ » .‏