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Bible Dictionaries
Birthright

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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  • 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 ).

  • 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 ).

  • 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.

  • 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.

    Bibliography Information
    Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Birthright'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ebd/​b/birthright.html. 1897.
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