Ask Away – January 22

1)

What was Esau’s “birthright” and how could he “sell” it to Jacob? (Gen 25:31)

The “birthright” was the privileged status which belonged to the firstborn son, who was regarded with special favor (cf. Exod 13:2; 34:19–20; Lev 27:26; Num 3:12–13). Jacob said of Reuben: “You are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power” (Gen 49:3; cf. Ps 78:51; 105:36). The birthright of the firstborn son consisted of “a double portion” of all that his father owned (Deut 21:17). This was appropriate since the firstborn acted as head of household for the family and had the responsibility of caring for his mother and siblings.

The Mosaic Law protected the rights of the firstborn and prevented fathers from displacing them simply because they favored the son of another wife (Deut 21:15–17). However, in certain circumstances, the father could transfer the birthright from the firstborn to a younger son. For instance, Abraham displaced Ishmael in favor of Isaac, the son of promise (Gen 21:10–13; 25:5). Also, Jacob displaced Reuben in favor of Joseph “because [Reuben] defiled his father’s couch” (1 Chron 5:1; cf. Gen 49:4).

Although the father had primary authority in bestowing the birthright, ancient Near Eastern records indicate that inheritance rights were the object of purchase and sale among brothers. Indeed, there is a Nuzi tablet which describes a man named Tupkitilla transferring his inheritance rights regarding a grove to his brother Kurpazah in exchange for three sheep.^[1] Thus it was not unheard of for one brother to seek the inheritance rights of another. The fact that Esau swore to the arrangement and later stated that he no longer had the birthright (Gen 27:36) confirms that the contract was indeed binding (note that Isaac does not contradict Esau’s statement).

The irony here is that there is no record of Jacob receiving any of his father’s property or possessions. His attempt to take advantage of his brother ended up bringing him nothing but trouble and heartbreak.

2)

What was the difference between the birthright and the blessing? (Gen 27:36)

The birthright was concerned with the inheritance of property and possessions (Deut 21:17). The blessing was concerned with future prosperity, social standing, and power (Gen 27:28–29). Esau sold his double portion of the inheritance to Jacob for a single bowl of soup, but he still hoped to gain the blessing of future wealth and success (Gen 27:34, 38). When Rebekah overheard Isaac’s plan, she immediately took action to prevent Esau, whose wives had made her life bitter, from gaining any kind of preeminence or supremacy in the future.

While anyone could pronounce a blessing on their children, the blessings of the patriarchs carried special significance because they were the chosen people of God, and at certain times, they spoke with God’s authority and sanction (cf. Gen 25:5; 28:3–4; 48:14–20; 49:1–28). Indeed, God explicitly said that Abraham was a prophet (Gen 20:7), and Jacob’s prophecy of his sons’ future was inspired by the Holy Spirit (Gen 49:1–28). Thus Isaac’s parting blessing of Jacob conferred far more than the prospect of future material success (Gen 28:3–4). It also conferred the promised blessings of God—the establishment of a nation, a vast number of descendants, the inheritance of Canaan, power and preeminence in the land, protection from enemies, and the spiritual blessing of the entire world though the Messiah (Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–21; 22:18).