This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour was, however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi ( Numbers 3:12,13 ; 8:18 ). The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance ( Deuteronomy 21:15-17 ). Reuben was, because of his undutiful conduct, deprived of his birth-right ( Genesis 49:4 ; 1 Chronicles 5:1 ). Esau transferred his birth-right to Jacob ( Genesis 25:33 ). The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be ( 2 Chronicles 21:3 ). By divine appointment, however, David excluded Adonijah in favour of Solomon. The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah ( Romans 8:29 ; Colossians 1:18 ; Hebrews 1:4-6 ). As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/easton— Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)