Easton's Bible Dictionary Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by
Leah. The name originated in Leah's words of praise to the Lord
on account of his birth: "Now will I praise [Hebrews odeh]
Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah" (Genesis 29:35). It
was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life
was spared (Genesis 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of
the family, and "prevailed above his brethren" (Genesis 43:3-10;
44:14, 16-34; 46:28; 1 Chronicles 5:2). Soon after the sale of
Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam,
where he married a woman of Canaan. (see ONAN; TAMAR.) After the
death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father's house, and
there exercised much influence over the patriarch, taking a
principal part in the events which led to the whole family at
length going down into Egypt. We hear nothing more of him till
he received his father's blessing (Genesis 49:8-12). Judah,
Kingdom of When the disruption took place at Shechem, at first
only the tribe of Judah