In the biblical context, the firstborn son held a position of significant privilege and responsibility within the family structure. This status was not only a matter of familial hierarchy but also carried legal and spiritual implications. The firstborn was traditionally entitled to a double portion of the inheritance, as outlined in Deuteronomy 21:17: "But he must acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him."

However, the privileges associated with the firstborn could be transferred or sold, as demonstrated in the account of Esau and Jacob. In Genesis 25:29-34, Esau, the firstborn of Isaac, sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a meal. The passage reads: "Once, when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. He said to Jacob, 'Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am famished.' That is why he was also called Edom. 'First sell me your birthright,' Jacob replied. 'Look,' said Esau, 'I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?' 'Swear to me first,' Jacob said. So Esau swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and went away. So Esau despised his birthright."

This transaction highlights the potential for the firstborn's privileges to be relinquished, either through neglect or deliberate choice. The sale of the birthright was not merely a transfer of material inheritance but also a forfeiture of the spiritual and familial leadership roles that accompanied the status of the firstborn.

The New Testament reflects on this event in Hebrews 12:16-17, warning against the irreverence and impulsiveness that characterized Esau's decision: "See to it that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears."

The ability to sell the privileges of the firstborn underscores the weight of personal responsibility and the consequences of one's choices. It serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, emphasizing the importance of valuing one's God-given position and responsibilities.Genesis 25:31,33
And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 12:16,17
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

"That those Grievously Sin who Despise or Neglect God's Gracious ...
... Sun of the Resurrection, He "who was born before the ... God accepts with gracious
welcome"the first-fruits He ... to be a running allusion to the privileges of the ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ix that those grievously sin.htm

The First victory for Dissent
... the Episcopal Church under a native born minister had ... But this first act did not
dampen sufficiently ... charter, together with many special privileges in religion ...
/.../chapter viii the first victory.htm

Chapter xxxiv
... feel that he especially has privileges in reference ... Rachel began; consequently her
children are listed first. ... everyone knows that Benjamin was born in Canaan. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiv.htm

Letter cxxx. To Demetrias.
... 3663] with a part; and that she could not have ... born of your soul escape the fate
of the first-born of the ... [3732] Leave to worldlings the privileges of laughing ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxx to demetrias.htm

The Unrivalled Friend
... to his feet and saw ourselves saved through him, we had always walked worthily of
the privileges we have ... Observe that Christ was born in the first place for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the unrivalled friend.htm

"There is Therefore Now no Condemnation to them which are in ...
... All men would desire to have privileges beyond others, but there is ... Ye have now Adam's
nature, which ye had first. ... with flesh and blood, which ye were born with ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i there is therefore.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... in the capacity of the First-born among many ... First, atonement ([Hebrew: kaper]"[Greek:
chatallage].) "The ... out the covenant relation and privileges, and duties ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

The Institution of Deacons, and the History of Stephen.
... The comparatively insignificant circumstances of being born in the ... Was not the first
temple destroyed by the ... a level in respect of spiritual privileges, was so ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture viii the institution of.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... little after, he is called, "the first-born from the ... they who are least able, will
first adventure to ... privileges go, especially of those privileges that border ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

On the Article, and in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which Spake ...
... for in all things the choicest privileges are with ... I say, in imagination even unto
the first heaven, and ... blessed Virgin Mary, of whom was born Christ according ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvi on the article.htm

What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church? | GotQuestions.org

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First: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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