Genesis 25:31-33

Amplified Bible

³¹Jacob answered, “First sell me your ^[a]birthright (the rights of a firstborn).” ³²Esau said, “Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?” ³³Jacob said, “Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]”; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright.

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Footnotes

Genesis 25:31 In later times, this was the right of the firstborn to take over as head of the family and to receive a double share of the inheritance (cf Deut 21:17). The rewards given to Jacob appear to have been even greater (Gen 27:37). Furthermore, in Jewish tradition it was reported that before the tabernacle was set up, sacrifices were offered by the firstborn of a family.