first-born Summary and Overview

sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deut. 21:17; Gen. 25:23, 31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chr. 5:1; Heb. 12:16; Ps. 89:27). (See BIRTHRIGHT T0000592.) The "first-born of the poor" signifies the most miserable of the poor (Isa. 14:30). The "church of the first-born" signifies the church of the redeemed. The destruction of the first-born was the last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Ex. 11:1-8; 12:29, 30). Menephtah is probably the Pharaoh whose first-born was slain. His son did not succeed or survive his father, but died early. The son's tomb has been found at Thebes unfinished, showing it was needed earlier than was expected. Some of the records on the tomb are as follows: "The son whom Menephtah loves; who draws towards him his father's heart, the singer, the prince of archers, who governed Egypt on behalf of his father. Dead."

Under the law, in memory of the exodus (when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain), the eldest son was regarded as devoted to God, and was in very case to be redeemed by an offering not exceeding five shekels, within one month from birth. If he died before the expiration of thirty days, the Jewish doctors held the father excused, but liable to the payment if he outlived that time. #Ex 13:12-15,16; Le 27:6| The eldest son received a double portion of the father's inheritance, #De 21:17| but not of the mother's. Under the monarchy the eldest son usually, but no always, as appears in the case of Solomon, succeeded his father in the kingdom. #1Ki 1:30; 2:22| The male first-born of animals was also devoted to God. #Ex 13:2,12,13; 22:29; 34:19,20| Unclean animals were to be redeemed with the addition of one-fifth of the value, or else put to death; or, if not redeemed, to be sold, and the price given to the priests. #Le 27:13,27,28|

FIRST'-BORN . The first-born male of every Jewish family and of all beasts was consecrated to God in commemoration of the judgment which God brought upon the first-born of Egypt. Ex 13:2. Several provisions of the Jewish law relate to the first-born. He received a double portion of the estate, Deut 21:17, and officiated as priest of the family in the father's absence or death. The privileges of the first-born were obviously great in the cases of Esau and Reuben, Gen 27:29, Gen 27:36; 1 Chr 5:1-2, but might be forfeited, as these two cases show. The religious pre-eminence of the first-born ceased when the priesthood was committed exclusively to the tribe of Levi. Num 3:12-13. It was then required that a certain piece of money (5 shekels, about $2.50) should be paid for the redemption of all the first-born of succeeding generations; and this redemption-money became part of the sacred revenue. Num 8:17; Josh 18:16. The first-born of all beasts used in sacrifice were devoted to the Lord, Ex 13:2, but the first-born of unclean animals might be redeemed with the addition of one-fifth of the value, Lev 27:13; otherwise, they were sold, exchanged, or destroyed. Ex 13:13; Lev 27:27. It is supposed that dogs were never redeemed, Deut 23:18. The titles "the first-born of every creature," Col 1:15, and "the first-begotten" of God, Heb 1:6, belong exclusively to Christ. The first of the two might be translated the "firstborn" or begotten (not created) "before every creature," and both expressions denote a dignity superior to men and angels and the whole creation.