Dake - The Ultimate Study Bible

Chain Reference Studies

We've all read the story of how Esau sold his birthright to Jacob:

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34)

To help us understand the significance of the birthright, The Dake Annotated Reference Bible lists 22 blessings associated with it, on page 21 of the Old Testament:

Twenty-two Blessings of Birthright (Gen. 25:31)

  1. Family inheritance (25:5)
  2. Family supremacy-the ruling head of the whole tribe (24:65; 25:5; 27:29, 37)
  3. The father's blessing (27:4, 27-38)
  4. Spiritual leader and priest of the family or tribe (26:25; 35:3-7)
  5. Choice of all family lands (25:5-6; 27:28, 37; 28:4; 35:12)
  6. Fruitfulness in offspring (13:16; 15:5; 17:2, 5; 22:17; 26:4, 24; 28:3, 14; 32:12; 35:11)
  7. Special providence (12:2-3; 26:3-4, 24; 27:28; 28:15)
  8. Personal blessings (12:2; 22:17; 26:3)
  9. A great name (12:2; 27:28-29, 37)
  10. Personal blessing to all nations (12:2-3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14)
  11. Eternal inheritance (13:15; 17:7-8; 28:13; 35:12)
  12. A special party to the Abrahamic covenant (17:7, 19; 26:3-4; 28:4, 13-15)
  13. "Father" of the Messiah (12:3; 21:12; 22:17; 26:5; 28:14; Rom. 9:7; Gal. 3:16)
  14. Father of many nations (17:5; 18:18; 35:11)
  15. Father of kings (17:6; 35:11)
  16. Eternal natural seed (17:7-8, 19; 2 Sam. 7; Isa. 9:6-7; 59:21; Lk. 1:31-32)
  17. Have Jehovah as a special God (17:7-8; 28:15; 32:9, 12)
  18. Have power over enemies (22:17; 27:29)
  19. Have headship of nations (27:29)
  20. Material prosperity (12:7; 13:15; 15:18; 26:3-4; 27:28-29, 37; 28:13; 35:12)
  21. Spiritual blessing of Abraham-justification by faith (28:4; Rom. 4; Gal. 3:14)
  22. Curse upon enemies (12:3; 27:29)

The birthright of men in the direct lineage of Christ included all the above, but that of an ordinary firstborn of any other family was different in many respects. The birthright belonged to the firstborn even where hatred was involved. He was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance (Dt. 21:15-17). It could be sold (25:29-34; 27:36; Heb. 12:16; Rom. 9:12-13), forfeited because of sin (1 Chr. 5:1-2), or set aside by God (25:23; 48:15-20; 1 Ki. 2:15; 1 Chr. 26:10).

 

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