First Born

Primogeniture is defined as is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn legitimate son to inherit his parent’s entire or main estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some children, any illegitimate child or any collateral relative. The firstborn connotes three things technically used in connection with Israel - rulership, priesthood, and double portion.

Rulership

Regarding the 12 Tribes of Israel, Reuben was the first born, but Reuben lost his rights as firstborn. Reuben’s failure was his mental attitude instability that lead to unstable actions. He was also guilty of incest. Gen. 49:3-4; Gen. 35:22-23; 1 Chron. 5:1-2

““Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.” (Genesis 49:3-4, NASB)

“It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob— the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun;” (Genesis 35:22-23, NASB)

“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),” (1 Chronicles 5:1-2, NASB)

Reuben lost the rulership to Judah. David came from the Tribe of Judah. God’s promise was to David - The Davidic Covenant. 2 Sam. 7:8-16.

““Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. “I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. “I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”‘““ (2 Samuel 7:8-16, NASB)

Regarding Jesus Christ, He is the absolute ruler in His humanity. He is called “first born” in Luke 2:7 and Colossians 1:15. He is the precious corner stone in 1 Peter 2:5-7. He is ruler over the regenerate of Israel in eternity as the Son of David. He is head of the Church invisible and universal.

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7, NASB)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15, NASB)

Priesthood

Regarding Reuben, he lost the priesthood to Levi. Num. 18:20-24.

“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. “The sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, or they will bear sin and die. “Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance. “For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’““ (Numbers 18:20-24, NASB)

Levi was equally guilty with Simeon (Gen. 34:25-31) but, eventually Levi used the grace of God via confession of sin and Simeon did not. Cursing was turned to blessing. The cursing was to never inherit the land. The blessing was the appointment to the priesthood. Levi’s confession of sin is found in Exodus 32, Deut. 33, Numbers 8.

“Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city unawares, and killed every male. They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went forth. Jacob’s sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; and they captured and looted all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives, even all that was in the houses. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.” But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”“ (Genesis 34:25-31, NASB)

Regarding Jesus Christ, He is our high priest. Church Age believers are all placed into union with Jesus Christ at salvation by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are all believer priests. Heb. 4:14; 1 Peter 2:5-9.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14, NASB)

“you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:5-9, NASB)

Double Portion

Regarding Reuben, he lost the double portion to Joseph. This became the largest tribe. Ephraim (largest) and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) outnumbered the others. Gen. 49:22-26.

““Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a spring; Its branches run over a wall. “The archers bitterly attacked him, And shot at him and harassed him; But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), From the God of your father who helps you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. “The blessings of your father Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; May they be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.” (Genesis 49:22-26, NASB)

Regarding Jesus Christ, He is the Son of God. Church Age believers are in union with Christ, therefore they are also the sons of God. Jesus Christ came to this earth in His First Advent to be the Savior of the world. He will return at the Second Advent to be the ruler of the entire earth for the Millennium. Jesus Christ died a spiritual death to pay for the sins of all mankind. Psalms 22:1.

“For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” (Psalms 22:1, NASB)

He then died physically after His atoning work on the cross was complete by voluntarily dismissing His human spirit. He was the only human being to ever be able to do so as part of God the Father’s plan. Luke 23:46.

“And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46, NASB)

Jesus Christ is now seated at right hand of the Father in Heaven and He intercedes for each of us. Because all believers are in Christ and share His position and future, we will also join Him upon our physical death.