How does Judah change in the Bible?

Answer 1

At first, Judah was the name of an individual; the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis ch.29). Later, Judah was the name of the Tribe which was made up of Judah's descendants.

Jacob prophesied greatness for Judah's descendants (Genesis 49:8-10).

Judah became the most numerous of the Tribes (Numbers ch.2 and ch.26).

Judah became representative of leadership (Judges 1:2) and righteousness (Hosea 12:1 according to Rashi commentary). Though some committed idolatry, more of the people of Judah remained loyal to God, than did those of other Tribes.

Judah provided the Davidic dynasty (Ruth 4:12-22), many of whom were righteous kings (1 Kings 3:3, 15:5, 15:11, 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3, 14:3, 15:3, 15:34, 18:3, and 22:2).

Judah (and their neighbor, the small Tribe of Benjamin) remained loyal to the Temple in Jerusalem, unlike the northern Ten Tribes.

Judah produced more than their share of Torah-scholars (Talmud, Yoma 26a).

After the exile of the Ten Tribes by the Assyrians, the Tribe of Judah comprised the majority of the people that remained. The Ten Tribes were lost. From that point forward, we have been called Jews, meaning Judahites; and the land was called Judea in Second Temple times.

Answer 2

At first, Judah was the name of an individual; the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis ch.29). Later, Judah was the name of the Tribe which was made up of Judah's descendants. Jacob prophesied greatness for Judah's descendants (Genesis 49:8-10).
Judah became the most numerous of the Tribes (Numbers ch.2 and ch.26).

Judah became representative of leadership (Judges 1:2) and righteousness (Hosea 12:1 according to Rashi commentary). Though some committed idolatry, more of the people of Judah remained loyal to God, than did those of other Tribes.

Link: Israelite monotheism and idolatry

Judah provided the Davidic dynasty (Ruth 4:12-22), many of whom were righteous kings (1 Kings 3:3, 15:5, 15:11, 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3, 14:3, 15:3, 15:34, 18:3, and 22:2).

Link: The Kings

Judah (and their neighbor, the small Tribe of Benjamin) remained loyal to the Temple in Jerusalem, unlike the northern Ten Tribes.

Judah produced more than their share of Torah-scholars (Talmud, Yoma 26a).

After the exile of the Ten Tribes by the Assyrians, the Tribe of Judah comprised the majority of the people that remained. The Ten Tribes were lost. From that point forward, we have been called Jews, meaning Judahites; and the land was called Judea in Second Temple times.

Link: The Ten Tribes