Birthright: 1. This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging
to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of
the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs,
and so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour
was, however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi(Numbers 3:12,13; 8:18)
2. The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of
the paternal inheritance
(Deuteronomy 21:15-17) Reuben was, because of his
undutiful conduct, deprived of his birth-right
(Genesis 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1)
Esau transferred his birth-right to Jacob
(Genesis 25:33)
3. The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father,
whatever it might be
(2 Chronicles 21:3) By divine appointment, however,
David excluded Adonijah in favour of Solomon.
4. The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of
"first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah
(Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:4-6) As first-born he has an inheritance
superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.
(See FIRST BORN)
