Difference between revisions of "Birthright"

<p> (בְּכוֹרָה, ''Bekorah';'' Sept. and N.T. τὰ πρωτοτόκια ) denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born (q.v.) among the I Hebrews. These were not definitely settled in the patriarchal times, but gradually became defined to include the following peculiar rights: </p> <p> '''1.''' The functions of priesthood in the family. The eldest son naturally became the priest in virtue of his priority of descent, provided no blemish or defect attached to him. The theory that he was the priest of the family rests on no scriptural statement, and the rabbins appear divided on the question (see Hottinger's [[Note]] on Goodwin's ''Moses And Aaron,'' i, 1; Ugolini, 3:53). Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the "princes" of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture (&nbsp;Numbers 7:2; &nbsp;Numbers 21:18; &nbsp;Numbers 25:14). Reuben was the first-born of the twelve patriarchs, and therefore the honor of the priesthood belonged to his tribe. God, however, transferred it from the tribe of Reuben to that of Levi (&nbsp;Numbers 3:12-13; &nbsp;Numbers 8:18). Hence the firstborn of the other tribes were redeemed from serving God as priests by a sum not exceeding five shekels. Being presented before the Lord in the temple, they were redeemed immediately after the thirtieth day from their birth (&nbsp;Numbers 18:15-16; &nbsp;Luke 2:22). It is to be observed that only the first-born who were fit for the priesthood (i.e. such as had no defect, spot, or Llemish) were thus presented to the priest. </p> <p> '''2.''' A " double portion" of the paternal property was allotted by the Mosaic law (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 21:15-17), nor could the caprice of the father deprive him of it. There is some difficulty in determining precisely what is meant by a double portion. Some suppose that half the inheritance was received by the elder brother, and that the other half was equally divided among the remaining brethren. This is not probable. The rabbins believe that the elder brother received twice as much as any of the rest, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of this opinion. When the first-born died before his father's property was divided, and left children, the right of the father descended to the children, and not to the brother next of age. Such was the inheritance of Joseph, his sons reckoning with his brethren, and becoming heads of tribes. This seems to explain the request of [[Elisha]] for a " double portion" of Elijah's spirit (&nbsp;2 Kings 2:9). Reuben, through his unfilial conduct, was deprived of the birthright (&nbsp;Genesis 49:4; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:1). It is likely that some remembrance of this lost pre- eminence stirred the Reubenite leaders of Korah's rebellion (&nbsp;Numbers 16:1-2; &nbsp;Numbers 26:59). Esau's act, transferring his right to Jacob, was allowed valid (&nbsp;Genesis 25:33). </p> <p> '''3.''' The first-born son succeeded to the official authority possessed by his father. If the latter was a king, the former was regarded as his legitimate successor, unless some unusual event or arrangement interfered (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 21:3). After the law was given through Moses, the right of primogeniture could not be transferred from the first-born to a younger child at the father's option. In the patriarchal age, however, it was in the power of the parent thus to convey it from the eldest to another child (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 21:15-17; &nbsp;Genesis 25:31-32). David, nevertheless, by divine appointment, excluded Adonijah in favor of Solomon, which deviation from rule was indicated by the anointing (Goodwin, 1. c. 4, with Hottinger's notes). The first-born of a line is often noted in the early scriptural genealogies, e.g. &nbsp;Genesis 22:21; &nbsp;Genesis 25:13; &nbsp;Numbers 26:5, etc. </p> <p> '''4.''' The Jews attached a sacred import to the title of primogeniture (see Schottgen, ''Hor. Hebr.'' i, 922), and this explains the peculiar significance of the terms "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah. Thus in &nbsp;Romans 8:29, it is written concerning the Son, " That he might be the [[First-Born]] among many brethren;" and in &nbsp;Colossians 1:18, "Who is the beginning, the ''First-Born'' from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence" (see also &nbsp;Hebrews 1:4-6). As the first-born had a double portion, so the Lord Jesus, as Mediator, has an inheritance superior to his brethren; he is exalted to the right hand of the [[Majesty]] on high, where he reigns until all his enemies shall be subdued. The universe is his rightful dominion in his mediatorial character. Again, he alone is a true priest; he fulfilled all the functions of the sacerdotal office; and the Levites, to whom, under the law, the priesthood was transferred from all the firstborn of Israel, derived the efficacy of their ministrations from their connection with the great high-priest (Jahn's Biblical Archeology, § 165). (See [[Primogeniture]]). </p>

<p> '''''bûrth´rı̄t''''' ( בּכרה , <i> '''''bekhōrāh''''' </i> , from <i> '''''bekhōr''''' </i> , "firstborn"; πρωτοτόκια , <i> '''''prōtotókia''''' </i> ): Birthright is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son. Where there were more wives than one, the firstborn was the son who in point of time was born before the others, apparently whether his mother was a wife or a concubine. [[Sarah]] protests against [[Ishmael]] being heir along with Isaac, but it is possible that the bestowal of the rights of the firstborn on Isaac was not due to any law, but rather to the influence of a favorite wife (&nbsp;Genesis 21:10 ). The birthright of the firstborn consisted in the first place of a double portion of what his father had to leave. This probably means that he had a double share of such property as could be divided. We have no certain knowledge of the manner in which property was inherited in the patriarchal age, but it seems probable that the lands and flocks which were the possession of the family as a whole, remained so after the death of the father. The firstborn became head of the family and Thus succeeded to the charge of the family property, becoming responsible for the maintenance of the younger sons, the widow or widows, and the unmarried daughters. He also, as head, succeeded to a considerable amount of authority over the other members. Further, he generally received the blessing, which placed him in close and favored covenant-relationship with Yahweh. According to the accounts which have come down to us, all these gifts and privileges could be diverted from the firstborn son. This could happen with his own consent, as in the case of Esau, who sold his birthright to Jacob (&nbsp;Genesis 25:29-34 ), or by the decision of the father, as in the case of Reuben (&nbsp;Genesis 48:22; &nbsp;Genesis 49:3 , &nbsp;Genesis 49:4; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:1 , &nbsp;1 Chronicles 5:2 ) and of [[Shimri]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 26:10 ). In the Deuteronomic version of the law, a provision is made, prohibiting the father from making the younger son the possessor of the birthright, just because his mother was specially beloved (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 21:15-17 ). The blessing also could be diverted from the eldest son. This was done when Jacob blessed the children of Joseph, and deliberately put the younger before the elder (&nbsp;Genesis 48:13 , &nbsp;Genesis 48:14 , &nbsp;Genesis 48:17-19 ); even when the blessing was obtained by the younger son in a fraudulent manner, it could not be recalled (Gen 27). Jacob does not appear to have inherited any of the property of his father, although he had obtained both the birthright and the blessing. </p> <p> In the New [[Testament]] "birthright," <i> '''''prototokia''''' </i> , is mentioned only once (&nbsp;Hebrews 12:16 ), where the reference is to Esau. In various passages where our Lord is spoken of as the firstborn, as in &nbsp;Colossians 1:15-19; &nbsp;Hebrews 1:2 , the association of ideas with the Old Testament conception of birthright is easy to trace. See also Firstborn; [[Family]]; Heir; [[Inheritance]]; [[Law]] . </p>