1 Chronicles 5:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Judah; not the person, (for so Joseph prevailed,) but the tribe of Judah. Prevailed above his brethren; excelled the other tribes in number and power, and especially in the following privilege. And of him, or for of him, as the Hebrew vau is oft used; this being a reason of the foregoing assertion, or a declaration wherein he did prevail. Came the chief ruler; the government was by God's promise and appointment to be seated chiefly and most durably in that tribe, first in David and his successors, and then in the Messiah, who sprang out of Judah, Hebrews 7:14, which was a far greater privilege than the birthright. Or, as to the ruler, (i.e. as to the point of dominion,) he was more than he, or preferred before him, i.e. before Joseph, who is named in the very next clause, the pronoun being referred unto the following noun, which is frequent among the Hebrews, as Psalms 87:1, Psalms 105:19. But the birthright; or, although, as vau is oft used; so this prevents or removes an objection against Judah's precedency taken from his birthright.