What it means to be the firstborn child
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 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.
Position: Being firstborn is a position one holds by simply being above the rest in terms of birth. Nowonder in some tribes of Uganda, baganda tribe in particular, the first born is never called by their name but there's a petty name they are always referred to called "baaba" literally meaning one who is the Head. If you happen to enter a home and one is called baaba, know that such a one is the eldest child of the home.
Authority: There's a way firstborns carry a certain authority over their siblings. They usually carry responsibility over the home when the parents were away. They are always answerable to the parents for anything that went bad in the home. Nowonder they carry the heavier punishment for they were expected to know better. Reuben demonstrated this when he defended his brother Joseph from being harmed by his brothers. He even took blame for his disappearance. Years later when Joseph tricked them to bring Benjamin to Egypt, he was the one who assured the old man Jacob, his father that he will bring him back else his two sons would be killed instead. In David's time it was Eliab, Jesse's eldest son who was thought about first to be annointed by Samuel as king over Israel. Eliab later exercised authority over David by inquiring why he was on the battlefield as they were facing Goliath. He expected him to be tending to the sheep of their father!
Inheritance: Firstborns were alloted a double potion of the inheritance even when they belonged to a woman that was not the favourite to the man in case he had more than one!
Representation: A firstborn represents the rest. Bible says if the firstfruit is holy, the rest is holy. Holy meaning one is special, different,
distinct.
Further scriptures
Genesis 37:19-22 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard [it], and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, [but] cast him into this pit that [is] in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
Genesis 37:29-30 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child [is] not; and I, whither shall I go?
Genesis 42:37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
1 Samuel 16:5-7 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 17:13-15 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went [and] followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle [were] Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David [was] the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.
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