Passage

Deuteronomy 21:15-17

Why must a father honor the firstborn’s share despite preferring another wife?

Berean Standard Bible

15 If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, 16 when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. 17 Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

What is the context?

The law imagines a household with a loved and an unloved wife, each with sons, and the firstborn belonging to the unloved wife. The father may not transfer firstborn status to the favored wife’s son.

The actual firstborn must receive the double share due him. Personal preference between the wives does not give the father authority to rewrite the son’s recognized inheritance right.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley treats this as provision for children in an existing plural marriage rather than a command approving that marriage structure. The immediate issue is inheritance and favoritism. The text protects the specified right without offering a complete ruling on every later question about marriage or inheritance.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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