THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AROUSED FOR THE RENDING OF THE PREY. His feet are over the head of _Hydra_, the great Serpent, and just about to descend upon it and crush it. The three constellations of the Sign complete this final picture: 1. _Hydra_, the old Serpent destroyed. 2. _Crater_, _the Cup_ of Divine wrath poured out upon him. 3. _Corvus_, the Bird of prey devouring him. The Denderah picture exhibits all four in one. The Lion is presented treading down the Serpent. The Bird of prey is also perched upon it, while below is a plumed female figure holding out _two cups_, answering to _Crater_, the cup of wrath. The hieroglyphics read _Knem_, and are placed underneath. _Knem_ means _who conquers_, or _is conquered_, referring to the victory over the serpent. The woman’s name is _Her‐ua_, _great enemy_, referring to the great enemy for which her two cups are prepared and intended. The Hebrew name of the sign is _Arieh_, which means _the Lion_. There are six Hebrew words for Lion,(75) and this one is used of the Lion _hunting down his prey_. The Syriac name is _Aryo_, _the rending Lion_, and the Arabic is _Al Asad_; both mean _a lion coming vehemently_, _leaping forth as a flame_! It is a beautiful constellation of 95 stars, two of which are of the 1st magnitude, two of the 2nd, six of the 3rd, thirteen of the 4th. The brightest star, α (on the Ecliptic), marks the heart of the Lion (hence sometimes called by the moderns, _Cor Leonis_, _the heart of the Lion_). Its ancient name is _Regulus_, which means _treading under foot_. The next star, β, also of the 1st magnitude (in the tip of the tail), is named _Denebola_, _the Judge_ or _Lord who cometh_. The star γ (in the mane) is called _Al Giebha_ (Arabic), _the exaltation_. The star δ (on the hinder part of the back) is called _Zosma_, _shining forth_. Other stars, not identified, are named _Sarcam_ (Hebrew), _the joining_; intimating that here is the point where the two ends of the Zodiacal circle have their _joining_. Another star has the name of _Minchir al Asad_ (Arabic), _the punishing_ or _tearing of the Lion_. Another is _Deneb Aleced_, _the judge cometh who seizes_. And another is _Al Dafera_ (Arabic), _the enemy put down_. What can be more expressive? What can be more eloquent? All is harmony, and all the names unite in pointing us to what is written of “the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” And why is Messiah thus called? Because it is applied to Him in Rev. v. 5 in connection with His rising up for judgment: and because the Lion is known to have been always borne upon the standard of Judah, whether in the wilderness (Num. ii.) or in aftertimes. In Israel’s dying blessing the prophetic words foretold of Judah: “Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; ... Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, thou art gone up. He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?” (Gen. xlix. 8, 9.)