17But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
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Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. …
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel,(for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. …
And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. …
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Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 15-17)This law restrains men from disinheriting their eldest sons out of mere caprice, and without just provocation. I. The case here put (Deut. 21:15) is very instructive. 1. It shows the great mischief of having more wives than one, which the law of Moses did not restrain, probably in hopes that men’s own experience of the great inconvenience of it in families would at last put an end to it and make t…
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