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Questions that this word study would like to investigate:

What is a birthright?

What privileges does it carry?

Why is it so important?

These questions will help us to understand why Jacob wanted Esau's birthright in exchange for some food.

Definition

Birthright

BIRTH'RIGHT, n. [birth and right.] Any right or privilege, to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution.

Esau, for a morsel, sold his birthright. Heb 12.

It may be used in the sense of primogeniture,or the privilege of the first born, but is applicable to any right which results from descent.

International Bible Encyclopedia

bûrth´rīt (בּכרה, bekhōrāh, from bekhōr, “firstborn”; πρωτοτόκια, prōtotókia).

This is a right which naturally belongs to the firstborn son. According to Old Testament customs and traditions, if a man had both wives and concubines, then the firstborn was the son was born before the others. This had nothing to do with whether his mother was a wife or a concubine. This is one of the reasons why Sarah protested against Hagar and her son, Ishmael. He was considered to be the firstborn of Abraham. This was not true in the eyes of God. Ishmael was not the promised seed. The man could also bestow the birthright on a son of a favorite wife. Note Genesis 21:10.

She told Abraham, "Get rid of this slave woman and her son. No child of this slave is going to share inheritance with my son Isaac!"

(Gen 21:10 MSG)

The birthright of the firstborn son consisted of a double portion of what his father had to leave. His father's estate. This meant a double share of the property that would be divided at his father's death. This meant as much as could be divided among the children. There is no definite knowledge concerning the manner in which such property was inherited by the descendants during the patriarchal period. Since Abraham was wealthy in slaves, animals, etc., then this would be the inheritance of his children.

The firstborn became the head of the family after the father's death. The firstborn was placed in charge of the family property. The firstborn then held considerable authority over the rest of the family. The firstborn received the blessing from the father. This blessing received from the father brought him into close "covenant-relationship" with the God of his father--Yahweh. As we with the story of Esau and Jacob, this privilege could be diverted from the firstborn son. In the case of Esau and Jacob, it was done with his consent. The father could divert the privilege as in the case of Reuben. Note the following verses:

As for me, I'm presenting you, as the first among your brothers, the ridge of land I took from Amorites with my sword and bow." (Gen 48:22 MSG)

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

(Gen 49:3 KJV)

Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. (Gen 49:4 KJV)

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. (1Ch 5:1 KJV)

For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1Ch 5:2 KJV)

Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;) (1Ch 26:10 KJV)

When the Deuteronomic version of the law is studied in reference to this, the father is prohbited from making the younger son the owner of the birthright. The exception that I stated above concerned the favorite wife. This could not be done under this version of the law. Note the text in Deuteronomy:

If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: 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. (Deu 21:15-17 KJV)

The father could divert the blessing from the eldest son as seen when Jacob blessed the children of Joseph. This put the younger before the eldest.

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. (Gen 48:13 KJV)

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. (Gen 48:14 KJV)

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (Gen 48:17-19 KJV)

Even when the birthright was fradulently taken from the eldest son, it could not be given back. (See Genesis 27). Jacob obtained both the birthright and the blessing, and he still did not inherit any of his father's property.

PART TWO

This word carries with it a specialness that we must not forget. The son became the priest of the family. Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs. The priesthood of the tribes then belonged to Reuben. God transferred this privilege to the tribe of Levi.

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; (Num 3:12 KJV)

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD. (Num 3:13 KJV)

And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. (Num 8:18 KJV)

Reuben lost his birthright because of his conduct. We should learn from this. Although God gives us something, we must be careful to walk in obedience. We may lose the blessing that God has so graciously bestowed upon us.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: (Gen 49:3 KJV)

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. (1Ch 5:1 KJV)

King David excluded Adonijah in favor of Solomon as noted in 2 Chronicles 21:3.

And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. (2Ch 21:3 KJV)

To the Jew, there was a special sacredness of importance to the rank of "first-born." The Bible also uses the word "first-begotten." Note the following scriptures in reference to this truth.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29 KJV)

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Col 1:18 KJV)

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Heb 1:4-6 KJV)

And now, finally, GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said: (Job 38:1 MSG)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, (Job 38:1 KJV)

Conversation

This scripture has a lot behind it. A lot of words filled with self opinions have preceded this verse. Each one of Job's friends has spoken their mnd on reasons why Job lost all that he had, and then lost his health. Each one had a reason that seemed plausible to them for the time. What is plausible to our finite human minds is not always what is truly going on. That is why we are told that we must seek the mind of Christ.

The Apostle Paul speaks of the Mind of Christ in his epistle to the Phillippian church. Note the following verse:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phi 2:5 KJV)

What mind is the Apostle Paul talking about? Let's look at this verse for a few minutes before moving on.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says:

Phi 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus - The object of this reference to the example of the Saviour is particularly to enforce the duty of humility. This was the highest example which could be furnished, and it would illustrate and confirm all the apostle had said of this virtue. The principle in the case is, that we are to make the Lord Jesus our model, and are in all respects to frame our lives, as far as possible, in accordance with this great example. The point here is, that he left a state of inexpressible glory, and took upon him the most humble form of humanity, and performed the most lowly offices, that he might benefit us.

The first thing that we must walk in is humility. We are not to think more highly of ourselves that we should. Jesus walked humbly while He was on the earth--therefore we are to walk according to the example that He left behind. This is a virtue that we should aim for. If we are to be Christlike, then we are to walk as He walked. We are to respond to circumstances and situations as He did. This may not always be easy. That is why we can ask the Lord to help us to become more and more like Him.

Phi 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus - Christ labored to promote no separate interest; as man he studied to promote the glory of God, and the welfare and salvation of the human race. See then that ye have the same disposition that was in Jesus: he was ever humble, loving, patient, and laborious; his meat and drink was to do the will of his Father, and to finish his work.

Phi 2:5 - Have this mind in you (touto phroneite en humin). “Keep on thinking this in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (ho kai en Christōi Iēsou). What is that? Humility. Paul presents Jesus as the supreme example of humility. He urges humility on the Philippians as the only way to secure unity.

Phi 2:5 - Let this mind be in you (τοῦτο φρονείσθω ἐν ὑμιν) Lit., let this be thought in you. The correct reading, however, is φρονεῖτε, lit., “think this in yourselves.” Rev., have this mind in you.

This last entry comes from Vine's Word Study. Notice how it clearly defines the fact that we are to think as Christ thought. We are think as Jesus thought. This means that your fleshly mind must be transformed into a spiritual mind. Your mind must be transformed on a daily basis. Transformation is a process. It takes time. It takes patience and it means you must stand still long enough in order to undergo the change. The transformation will hurt, but it will be for your good. For in your transformation, the old man will be removed with its worldly ways, and it will replaced with the new ways of Jesus Christ.

After everybody has had their say, now it is God's turn to speak. It is as though God showed Himself to be the gentleman that He is. He waited His turn to speak. Now that all are silent, God can speak. Notice that God speaks to Job out of a whirlwind.

The Lord answers Job out of a whirlwind, and challenges him to answer, Job_38:1-3. He convinces him of ignorance and weakness, by an enumeration of some of his mighty works; particularly of the creation of the earth, Job_38:4-7. The sea and the deeps, Job_38:8-18. The light, Job_38:19-21. Snow, hail, thunder, lightning, rain, dew, ice, and hoar-frost, Job_38:22-30. Different constellations, and the ordinances of heaven influencing the earth, Job_38:31-33. Shows his own power and wisdom in the atmosphere, particularly in the thunder, lightnings, and rain, Job_38:34-38. His providence in reference to the brute creation, Job_38:39-41.

Verse 2 of Chapter 38 says a lot for all the conversation that has been happening until this point in the story. God asks the question: "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" In other words, who is this that speaks with any knowledge of what is going on? Who can speak and not have a clear understanding behind the truth of this matter? This was a direct acusation of the fact that man cannot possess the truth behind what is going on their lives unless the Lord reveal it to them. You and I can go through various tests and trials without knowing the real reason behind it. Sometimes it is not for us to know what the reason is. It is only for us to go through and endure until the end. Sometimes we may never know why we sufer certain things, but that gives us no reason to fold our hands and die! For if we should die in the midst of our crisis, then we will not experience victory. Neither will we have a testimony of the goodness, grace and mercy of the Lord! It is not about you. Rather it is about Him! It is about the wonderous acts of the Lord. You are an ambassador, a servant of the Lord. He needs you to manifest His glory. How can His glory be manifest His glory if you run from trouble? He will put on you no more than you can bear? Remember that!