“Judah is a lion cub; from prey, my son, you ascended. He crouches, lies like a lion, and like a great cat, who shall rouse him” (Genesis 49:9)? “Judah is a lion cub” – this teaches that he gave him the strength of a lion and the boldness of its cubs. “From prey, my son, you ascended” – from the prey of Joseph you rose and became elevated.
From the prey of Tamar, you rose and became elevated.50Judah prevented the killings of both Joseph and Tamar. “He crouches, lies [ravatz]” – from Peretz until David; “he crouches, lies [shakhav]” (Numbers 24:9) – from David until Zedekiah.51Although both ravatz and shakhav are translated “lies,” shakhav connotes a more secure position, consistent with the time period from King David until Zedekiah (Etz Yosef).
Some say: “He crouches, lies [ravatz]” – from Peretz until Zedekiah; “he crouches, lies [shakhav]” – from Zedekiah until the messianic king.52This view interprets ravatz to be the more secure and relaxed position (Etz Yosef). “He crouches, lies [ravatz]” – in this world; “he crouches, lies [shakhav]” – in the World to Come. “He crouches, lies [ravatz]” – at a time when there are no enemies; “he crouches, lies [shakhav]” – at a time when there are enemies. He stood against all the enemies.