16 then it shall be on the day that he wills what he owns as an inheritance to his sons, he is not allowed to treat the son of the loved wife as the firstborn, [a]at the expense of the son of the [b]unloved, who actually is the firstborn son. 17 On the contrary, he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the [c]unloved wife, by giving him a double [d]portion of everything that [e]he owns, for he was the (A)beginning of his [f]strength; (B)to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 21:16 Lit against the face of
  2. Deuteronomy 21:16 See note v 15
  3. Deuteronomy 21:17 See note v 15
  4. Deuteronomy 21:17 Lit mouthful
  5. Deuteronomy 21:17 Lit is found with him
  6. Deuteronomy 21:17 I.e., power of procreation

16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love.(A) 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double(B) share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength.(C) The right of the firstborn belongs to him.(D)

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Genealogy from Reuben

Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel (for (A)he was the firstborn, but because (B)he defiled his father’s bed, (C)his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel; so he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. (D)Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and (E)from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

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Reuben

The sons of Reuben(A) the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed,(B) his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph(C) son of Israel;(D) so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,(E) and though Judah(F) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler(G) came from him, the rights of the firstborn(H) belonged to Joseph)—

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