Thematic Bible: The First-born


Thematic Bible



"Reuben, you're my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power. But you're as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won't succeed, because you got in your father's bed, defiled it, and then approached my couch."

Here is a record of the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israel's son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Verse ConceptsConcubinesBirthrightsFirstborn Sons

"Your brothers will praise you, Judah. Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies, and your father's children will bow down to you. Verse ConceptsBowingCommendationSalutationsOvercoming EnemiesShowing Forth His Praiseserenity

They'll come crying, and I'll lead them as they pray for mercy. I'll make them walk by streams of water, along a straight path on which they won't stumble. For I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn." Verse ConceptsGod, Fatherhood OfAdoption, nature ofFirstbornIntimacyPeople Of God, In OtSpring Of WaterWeepingAnswered PromisesSpiritual AdoptionFirstborn SonsStraight PathsNot StumblingBrookssupplication

"Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? Indeed, as often as I've spoken about him, I surely still remember him. Therefore I deeply yearn for him. I'll surely have great compassion on him," declares the LORD. Verse ConceptsGod, Joy OfGod, Compassion OfGod, Suffering OfIntimacyRejection Of God, Results OfBowelsSpiritual AdoptionIsrael As Sons Of GodGod Remembering His PeopleGod Will Show Mercy

Isaac loved Esau, because he loved to hunt, while Rebekah loved Jacob. Verse ConceptsFathers, Examples OfPrejudiceTastePartialityThose Who LovedMan's FavouriteDeergames

"I'm taking the descendants of Levi for myself from among the Israelis in place of every first-born who opens the womb. The descendants of Levi belong to me Verse ConceptsCovenant, God's with Israel's priestsVicarious Substitution

Later the LORD instructed Moses: "Number all the first-born males of Israel from a month old and above and list their names. Separate the descendants of Levi for me since I am the LORD in place of all the first-born sons of Israel. Also separate the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of Israel." So Moses numbered all the firstborn from the sons of Israel just as the LORD commanded him. read more.
All the first-born males according to the list of their names from a month old and above numbered 22,273.

taking the descendants of Levi instead of every firstborn of the Israelis. Verse ConceptsSubstitution


"Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBrothersChrist The Firstborn


And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of humans to the firstborn of animals. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb, but I redeem every firstborn of my sons. Verse ConceptsStubbornness, Consequences OfDeath Of The FirstbornGod KillingMale AnimalsBoth Men And Animals KilledHindering God's WorkGod Killed The PeoplesRegulating Sacrifices

because all the first-born belong to me. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated all the first-born in Israel for myself from human beings to livestock. They belong to me, since I am the LORD." Verse ConceptsClaimsDeath Of The FirstbornI Am The LordPeople Belong To God

since every firstborn of Israel belongs to me, from human beings to livestock. On the same day that I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them to myself, Verse ConceptsDeath Of The Firstborn

"Reuben, you're my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power. Verse ConceptsFirstborn SonsStrong IndividualsPowerful IndividualsFamily StrengthPowerExcellencemanhoodstrenghdignity

Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn of the unloved wife by giving him double of everything he owns, because he is really the first fruit of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him." Verse ConceptsHeirsDouble Portions

according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca was told, "The older child will serve the younger one." So it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

"Two nations are in your womb," the LORD responded, "and two separate people will emerge. One people will be the stronger, and the older one will serve the younger." Verse ConceptsBabies In The WombFavouritismJacob, The PatriarchSubjectionTwo GroupsFreshness Of YouthWombServing PeopleStrong NationsOvercoming Adversity

You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep. They shall be with their mother for seven days and then on the eighth day you are to give them to me. Verse ConceptsCowsDay 8Seven DaysYoung AnimalAnimal MothersLess Than A Year OldSeven Days For Legal Purposes

"Whenever a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it is to remain for seven days under the care of its mother. But on the eighth day onwards, it may be accepted as an offering made by fire to the LORD. Verse ConceptsSeven DaysYoung AnimalAnimal MothersLess Than A Year OldSeven Days For Legal PurposesRegulating Sacrifices

May people serve and bow before you; may you be master over your brothers; may your mother's sons bow before you; may anyone who curses you be cursed; and may anyone who blesses you be blessed." Verse ConceptsJacob, Life And Character OfServing PeopleSalutationsBlessing Through God's PeopleCursing Israel

He said, "Please let me go because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to come. Now, if it's acceptable to you, please let me get away so I can see my brothers.' That's the reason he didn't come to the king's table." Verse ConceptsBrothersethics, personalTown

But Jacob insisted, "Swear it by an oath right now." So he swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Verse ConceptsOaths, HumanYielding To Temptation

But Jacob responded, "Sell me your birthright. Do it now." Verse ConceptsBirthrights

Isaac replied, "Your brother came here deceitfully and stole your blessing." Verse ConceptsInjustice, Examples OfPeople BlessingThose Who Deceived

Then prepare some food, just the way I like it, and bring it to me so that I can eat and bless you before I die." Verse ConceptsTasteRequesting FoodSavourinessBefore DeathLoving Other ThingsPeople Blessing

You are to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn of your sons, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed. Verse ConceptsDonkeysLambsRansomRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingEmpty HandedRules About Killing Animals

Everything that opens the womb, any living thing that they bring to the LORD whether from human beings or animals are for you. Just be sure that you redeem the firstborn of people and the firstborn of unclean animals. Verse ConceptsFirstbornAnimals, religious role ofWomb

So he replied, "You know that the kingdom should have come to me, and that everyone in Israel intended to place me as the next king. However, the kingdom has turned around and now belongs to my brother, because it went to him from the LORD.

But King Solomon replied to his mother, "Why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why not ask me to give up the kingdom for him, since he's my older brother, and why not ask for Abiathar the priest, and for Zeruiah's son Joab?" Verse ConceptsBrothersThe Kingdom Of Others

You are to redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn among your sons. Verse ConceptsRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingRules About Killing Animalsredeemed

You are to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn of your sons, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed. Verse ConceptsDonkeysLambsRansomRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingEmpty HandedRules About Killing Animals


Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with endless rivers of oil? Am I to give my firstborn to pay for my rebellion, the fruit of my body in exchange for my soul? Verse ConceptsFirstbornBodyRamsA Thousand AnimalsSacrificing The Firstborn

"You are not to hold back the fullness of your harvest and the outflow of your wine presses. You are to give to me the firstborn of your sons. Verse ConceptsFirstbornChild sacrificeTypes Of ChristProcrastinationFirst fruitsTithes And Offering

"Consecrate to me every firstborn male. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelis, both of humans and of animals, belongs to me." Verse ConceptsBaby dedicationClaimsCeremoniesHoliness, As Set Apart For GodThe Act Of OpeningConsecrationOpening The WombPeople Belong To GodMaking People HolyRegulating SacrificesDedicationSanctification

"If a man has two wives where one is loved but the other is unloved, and both of them bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved wife, then when he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, he must not give preference to the firstborn of the beloved wife over the firstborn of the unloved wife.

Here is a record of the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israel's son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Even though Judah became prominent among his relatives that is, the Commander-in-chief will be his descendant nevertheless the right of the firstborn went to Joseph.)

"When two brothers are living together and one of them dies without leaving a son, his widow must not be married outside the family to a foreigner. Instead, the brother-in-law must go to her, take her as his wife, and by doing so perform the duty of a brother-in-law. The firstborn whom she will bear will continue the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be erased from Israel.

"Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You must not put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBullsSheep Shearing

"Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You must not put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBullsSheep Shearing

Their father gave them many gifts made of silver, and gold, as well as valuable things, along with fortified cities in Judah, but he passed the kingdom to Jehoram because Jehoram was his firstborn. Verse ConceptsFirstbornGoldInheritance, MaterialBirthrights

Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn of the unloved wife by giving him double of everything he owns, because he is really the first fruit of his father's strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him." Verse ConceptsHeirsDouble Portions

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and said, "Surely he's the LORD's anointed." The LORD told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or his height, for I've rejected him. Truly, God does not see what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." read more.
Then Jesse brought Shammah, and he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." Then Samuel told Jesse, "Are these all the young men?" He said, "There yet remains the youngest one, and right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send someone to get him, for we won't do anything else until he arrives here." So he sent and brought him. He had a dark, healthy complexion, with beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. The LORD said, "Get up and anoint him, for this is the one."

But God replied, "No, but your wife Sarah will give birth to your son, and you are to name him Isaac. I'll confirm my covenant with him as an eternal covenant for his descendants. And as for Ishmael, I've heard you. I'll bless him, and he'll have many descendants. I will multiply him greatly, he'll father twelve tribal leaders, and I'll cause his descendants to become a great nation. Now as to Isaac, I'll confirm my covenant with him, to whom Sarah will give birth as your son at this time next year."

Then Israel blessed Joseph by saying: "May the God in whose presence my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has continued shepherding me my whole life even until today, the angel who has been rescuing me from all sorts of evil, bless these young men. May my name continue to live on within them, including the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a vast multitude throughout the earth." But Joseph observed that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head. That displeased him, so he grabbed his father's hand and started to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. read more.
"No, father, this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head." But his father refused. "I know," he said. "I know. He's going to produce a large nation, and he's going to be very great. However, his younger brother will become even greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations." That very day, Jacob blessed them with this blessing: "By you Israel will extend this blessing: "May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'"

Then he brought them both close to his father, placing Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right. But Israel stretched out his right hand, laying it on Ephraim's head (he was the younger son) and laying his left hand on Manasseh's head (even though Manasseh was the firstborn).

"No person is to consecrate the firstborn, because the firstborn of the animals already belongs to the LORD. Whether ox or goat, it belongs to the LORD. Verse ConceptsClaimsAll Things Belong To God

Then give the money meant for ransom of their excess to Aaron and his sons." So Moses took the ransom money to account for the difference in the total number of those redeemed by the descendants of Levi. From the firstborn of the Israelis, Moses took money amounting to 1,365 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary. read more.
Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and his sons according to the LORD's instructions, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

You are to pay a ransom for the 273 first-born Israelis who exceed the census number of the descendants of Levi, so collect five shekels for each individual, denominated in shekels of the sanctuary, that is, the shekel that weighs 20 gerahs.

as well as the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as recorded in the Law, along with the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to present to the Temple of our God for the priests that minister in the Temple of our God. Verse ConceptsFirstbornClaims

Shem, Japheth's older brother, also had descendants. Shem was the father of the descendants of Eber. Verse ConceptsAncestors

while Abel brought the best parts of some of the firstborn from his flock. The LORD looked favorably upon Abel and his offering, but he did not look favorably upon Cain and his offering.

Their meat is to belong to you, just as the breast wave offering and the right thigh is yours. Verse ConceptsBodies Of AnimalsAnimal Sacrifices, Wave OfferingSwingingThighs Of AnimalsFood For Priests DefinedOther Right Parts


Those that can be redeemed, you are to redeem at the age of one month, based on your estimate for five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, that is, for 20 gerahs. Verse ConceptsCoinageLess Than A Year OldValuation Of PeopleRight Measuresredeemed

But you are not to redeem the firstborn of a cow, sheep, or a female goat. They are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. Verse ConceptsFatnessAromasSmellsSprinklingFat Of The SacrificesRefreshing God

Everything that opens the womb, any living thing that they bring to the LORD whether from human beings or animals are for you. Just be sure that you redeem the firstborn of people and the firstborn of unclean animals. Verse ConceptsFirstbornAnimals, religious role ofWomb

The LORD told Moses, "Listen! I've positioned you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to speak everything that I've commanded you, and then your brother Aaron will speak to Pharaoh, telling him to let the Israelis go out of his land.

When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord."


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