¹⁶ then on the day when ^(A)he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn,

¹⁰ And ^(A)Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),

^2 (A)though Judah became strong among his brothers and a ^(B)chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

¹⁶ that no one is ^(A)sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that ^(B)afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

²⁹ For those whom he ^(A)foreknew he also ^(B)predestined ^(C)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be ^(D)the firstborn among many brothers.

³ Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with ^(A)fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

¹⁹ and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. ²⁰ After her he took ^(A)Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him ^(B)Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. ²¹ Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). ^22 (C)And Rehoboam appointed ^(D)Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.