And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.[1]
Chapter Six
The Birthright
Pt 1 – Esau’s Right as the Firstborn
Easton’s Bible Dictionary describes the birthright as following:
(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.[2] Italics added
(2.) The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance. [3] Reuben was, because of his undutiful conduct, deprived of his birth-right. Esau transferred his birth-right to Jacob. Italics added
(3.) The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be. Italics added
(4.) The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of “first-born” and “first-begotten” as applied to the Messiah. [4] Italics added.
Prior to the exodus from Egypt the Hebrew children were instructed to,
“Set aside for me all the firstborn. Whatever is first from the womb among the people of Isra’el, both of humans and of animals, belongs to me.” [5]
Prior to the debacle of the golden calf, the responsibilities of the firstborn male in each home were to include the priestly function for each family. The firstborn was to act as the spiritual head of each family. Jacob, from an early age, desired the mantel of priesthood. [6] He understood the covenant blessing spoken over Abraham and desired to be the progenitor of the seed that would liberate mankind from the curse of sin. That seed is unmistakably the Messiah, Jesus Christ.[7] Jacob was not concerned over the material blessing of his father, Isaac. Jacob desired the spiritual blessing of his father, God.
Exodus 32 tells the story of the golden calf and tells us that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai that he found the children ofIsraelengaged in idolatrous revelry, and that only the Levites rallied around him to put the revelers to the sword. Because of this, verse 29 tells us that,
“You [the Levites] have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”
Numbers 3:12 adds to this saying,
“Look,I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead ofevery firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me, because all the firstborn are mine. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They belong to me. I am the Lord.” [8]
Prior to these events, the priesthood was the right and responsibility of the firstborn. These are the sacred responsibilities that Esau despised.
“See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” Hebrews 12:16
The Birthright
Pt 2 – Esau Sells His Birthright
“Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.““Look, I am about to die,” Esau said.” What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.”[9]
There are a few things that must be examined regarding Esau and “his inheritance rights as the oldest son”, the rights for which he showed contempt for when he sold them for a cup of soup.
As discussed earlier, Esau and Jacob were aware of the significant events in the lives of their parents and grandparents. Events such as the offering of Isaac atMountMoriah, the smoking pot and the covenant with God, and the sending of Abraham’s servant to PaddanAramto find a bride for Isaac are certainly stories that must have been told on a regular basis.
Esau, aware that his grandfather Abraham had sent his servant to PaddanAramto find a wife for his father Isaac, (because Abraham did not approve of the local Hittite women), appears to have intentionally married two Hittite women. Scripture says,
“When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah”.[10]
[1] Genesis 25:31 KJV
[2] After the Exodus and theMount Sinai experience, the Levites replaced the firstborn of each family as priests. In Numbers 8:18 it says, “So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.” KJV
[3] Deuteronomy 21:17, KJV, “But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”
[5] Exodus 13:2, Complete Jewish Bible
[6] The conflict between the twins within the womb of Rebekah should be seen as a spiritual battle. It is likely that Jacob, like John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit before birth and that Esau sought to destroy the righteous Jacob even prior to his birth.
[7] Galatians 3:16, KJV, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
[8] NET Bible®
[9] Genesis 25:29-34 NIV
[10] Genesis 26:34-35, NIV
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