Israelite social organization, the “thousands,” the troops raised from each tribal subdivision (מִשְׁפָּחָה) for military purposes. It recalls the pre-monarchic times of Moses, Joshua, and the judges, and thereby throws hearers of this prophecy back to the time before the coming of the first king.1 From Bethlehem will come someone to be a “ruler.” This term was perhaps chosen as less definite and prosaic than “king,” more shadowy and suited to prophecy. Perhaps the preceding line and following