The Ordinance of Firstborn (3): Some Cases of the Firstborn Curse (Cont’d)

Some Cases of the Firstborn Curse (Continued)

So it happened, when they had come, he looked at Eliab [the eldest son] and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him… – 1 Samuel 16:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

We are still considering some examples of firstborns in the Bible who experienced one form of misfortune or another, which serve as justification for those who believe the firstborn curse, firstborn jinx, or firstborn hex.

Jephthah’s firstborn, a daughter, paid the ultimate price with her life and was sacrificed in fulfilment of a vow made by her father, which she was not privy to. She therefore died an untimely death and in her prime too (Judges 11).

Mahlon, the first husband of Ruth the Moabitess and firstborn of Elimelech and Naomi, died untimely at a separate time from his father and younger brother, Chilion, in the countries of Moab where they relocated to after a famine broke out in Bethlehem (Ruth 1).

Hophni, the firstborn of Eli, the high priest of Israel at the time, died rather young, alongside Phinehas, his younger brother, during a war between the Israelites and the Philistines (1 Samuel 4).

Joel, the firstborn of prophet Samuel who was highly revered as a man of God, was rejected in a referendum by the people of Israel, from succeeding his father as a judge over them because of his corrupt ways (1 Samuel 8).

Eliab, the firstborn of Jesse, a tall, huge and handsome lad who had all the trappings of an accomplished man, was rejected by God as king over Israel. At the same time, his youngest brother, David, was preferred instead. Even the revered Prophet Samuel was shocked that God passed over this seemingly eligible firstborn to choose one not as physically accomplished.

Jonathan, the firstborn of King Saul, was another very fine and noble-hearted gentleman bypassed by God first for the throne of Israel, as another person was preferred as king over him. Also, and very sadly too, Jonathan and his other brothers were killed in their prime on Mount Gilboa alongside their father, Saul (1 Samuel 31).

Amnon, the firstborn of David, committed an incest by raping his half-sister, Tamar, which led to a reprisal attack from Absalom, the direct elder brother of Tamar who killed firstborn Amnon for abusing and dumping his sister (2 Samuel 13).

Absalom himself, being the firstborn of Maacah, David’s fourth wife, also had his own life terminated untimely and in a brutal way in a war between his own troops and his father’s warriors (2 Samuel 18).

Adonijah, another son of David but the firstborn of Haggith, David’s fifth wife, also had his life cut short by his half-brother, Solomon, who succeeded their father to the throne of Israel (1 Kings 2:13-46).

Rehoboam, Solomon’s firstborn, turned out to be unwise, unlike his father. He suffered the misfortune of losing the vast majority of the kingdom of Israel, with 10 tribes breaking away from him and only two remaining under his rulership. Also, throughout his reign, he contended with a rebellion, which ensured that he did not have a rosy rule, unlike his father (1 Kings 12).

Abiram, the firstborn of Hiel, a man from Bethel who rebuilt the city of Jericho, paid the ultimate price with his own life as his father laid the foundation of the grand city project (1 Kings 16:34).

To be continued…

You Will Succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

• The Ordinance of Firstborn (2): Some Cases of the Firstborn Curse
• Fathers in the Bible: Cain – A Sweet Father
• The Sweet Old Fisherman
• What Do I Do?

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