Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac;

but while he was still alive, he gave presents to the sons his other wives had borne him. Then he sent these sons to the land of the East, away from his son Isaac.

Esau said, "All right! I am about to die; what good will my rights do me?"

Then Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. That was all Esau cared about his rights as the first-born son.

These are the descendants of Reuben, the oldest of Jacob's sons. (Because he had sex with one of his father's concubines, he lost the rights belonging to the first-born son, and those rights were given to Joseph.

It was the tribe of Judah, however, that became the strongest and provided a ruler for all the tribes.)

"Reuben, my first-born, you are my strength And the first child of my manhood, The proudest and strongest of all my sons.

He killed the first-born sons of all the families of Egypt.

Jacob answered, "I will give it to you if you give me your rights as the first-born son."

Jacob answered, "First make a vow that you will give me your rights." Esau made the vow and gave his rights to Jacob.