Deuteronomy 21:16

and the father will part his chattel betwixt his sons, he shall not be able to make the son of the loved wife his first begotten son, and set him before the son of the hateful wife, (and the father will divide his possessions between his sons, he shall not be able to make the son of the loved wife his first-born son, and set him before the son of the hated wife,)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

In Context

15If a man hath two wives, one loved, and another hateful, and he begetteth of her free children, and the son of the odious wife is the first begotten, (If a man hath two wives, one loved, and the other hated, and he begetteth children with them, and the son of the hated wife is the first-born,)

17but he shall know the son of the hateful wife to be his first begotten son, and he shall give to that son all things double of those things that he hath; for this son is the beginning of his free children, and the first engendered things be due to him. (but he shall acknowledge the son of the hated wife to be his first-born son, and he shall give double to that son of all the things that he hath; for this son is the first of his children, and the rights of the first-born son be due to him.)

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

Cross References

1 Chronicles 5:2Forsooth (of) Judah, that was the strongest among his brethren, princes were gathered of his generation, (or But from Judah, who was the strongest among his brothers, came the leader for all the tribes); forsooth the right of first begetting was areckoned to Joseph.

2 Chronicles 11:19and she childed to him sons (or and she bare for him three sons), Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

2 Chronicles 21:3And their father gave to them many gifts of gold and of silver, and he gave them pensions, or rents, with full strong cities in Judah; but he gave the realm to Jehoram, for he was his first begotten son. (And their father gave them many gifts of gold and of silver, and he gave them pensions, or rents, along with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, for he was his first-born son.)

Philippians 4:8From henceforth, brethren, whatever things be sooth (or whatever things be true), whatever things chaste (or pure), whatever things just, whatever things holy, whatever things able to be loved, [or amiable, or lovable], whatever things of good fame, if any virtue, if any praising of discipline, think ye (on) these things,

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:16-18

The Right of the Firstborn. ( b. c. 1451.) 15 If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: 16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that… Read the whole commentary →

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