1 Chronicles 4:1-8

The tribe of Judah was, on several accounts, the most illustrious in Israel. It formed a separate kingdom, including Levi, Simeon and Benjamin. And when the other tribes appeared to have been scattered, and almost lost, in the Assyrian conquests, this of Judah, when returning from captivity, became conspicuously great and flourishing. But Judah derived its eminence still more from the appointment that our Lord should spring from it. And hence we find Judah placed first in point of rank, in the list of Israel's sons, when blessed. See Revelation 7:5; Hebrews 7:14.