FIRSTBORN — the eldest son, who by right held the birthright, a double inheritance, and the family headship. Genesis is full of the firstborn displaced (Ishmael, Esau, Reuben); Exodus makes the firstborn a matter of life and death. God claims Israel itself as his BEKHOR — 'Israel is my firstborn son' (4:22), a claim of covenant sonship — and the conflict with Pharaoh becomes a contest over sons, climaxing when 'every firstborn in Egypt' is struck and Israel's firstborn are spared by blood (ch 12), after which every firstborn of Israel belongs to Jehovah. → first discussed at Exod 4:22