Day 18

II The Age of The Patriarchs - 1967-1606 B.C. ~ cont.

D. Jacob

1. Obtains Esau's birthright - Genesis 25:27-34

2. Incidents in Isaac's life

a. Famine and covenant renewal with Isaac at Gerar - Genesis 26:1-5

b. Isaac lies about Rebekah at Gerar - Genesis 26:6-10

c. Isaac's success at Gerar - Genesis 26:11-16

d. Isaac, the well-digger at Gerar caused temporary strife - Genesis 26:17-22

e. Esau marries two Canaanite women - Genesis 26:34-35

f. Makes altar at Beer-Sheba - Genesis 26:23-25

g. Death of Ishmael (137 years) - Genesis 25:17-18
h. Isaac's truce with Abimelech at Beer-Sheba - Genesis 26:26-32
3. Jacob obtains Esau's blessing - Genesis 27:1-46

Never thought to ask, "What is a birthright?"

The word, 'birthright' is used 10 times in 9 verses. In the OT:

H1062 - Feminine of H1060; the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture.

primogeniture?

–noun

1.

the state or fact of being the firstborn of children of the same parents.

2.

Law: system of inheritance or succession by the firstborn, specifically the eldest son.

• H1060 - From H1069; firstborn; hence chief.
• H1069 - A primitive root; properly to burst the womb, that is, (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree); also (as denominatively from H1061) to give the birthright.

Burst the womb?  Interesting turn of words.  :-D  The first child most definitely changes a woman's body.  {laugh}

First usage of H1062 is in Genesis 4:4 when Abel brings the firstlings of his flock as an offering.  Last usage in Nehemiah 10:36 which uses firstborn (H1060) and firstlings (H1062).

In the NT:
G4415 - From G4416; primogeniture (as a privilege).

• G4416 - From G4413 and the alternate of G5088; first born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively).

Okay, this helps me not at all in really understanding what a birthright entails.  From K&D commentary (portion):

"The birthright consisted afterwards in a double portion of the father's inheritance (Deu_21:17); but with the patriarchs it embraced the chieftainship, the rule over the brethren and the entire family (Gen_27:29), and the title to the blessing of the promise (Gen_27:4, Gen_27:27-29), which included the future possession of Canaan and of covenant fellowship with Jehovah (Gen_28:4)."

Deu 21:17 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.

Here is what I gleaned from a couple of websites I browsed:

1. Double portion - of divisible property;
2. Head of the family - responsible for widow(s), other sons and unmarried daughters;
3. Authority - over other members of family; and
4. Blessing - close and favored covenant-relationship with Yahweh

I found Matthew Henry's commentary intriguing - if you do not have E-Sword (with free download program, commentaries and dictionary) please avail yourself by clicking the link.  For a quick view, go here, scroll down to Verses 29-34.