It’s not explicitly stated, but the theme of the firstborn first appears in the opening narratives of the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 1 and 2, Yahweh elevates humans, the latecomers of creation, to rule the land. In Genesis 3, a snake, who is some kind of spiritual being, tricks the humans despite their authority as God’s image bearers. This story is echoed in other accounts of sibling rivalry that continue throughout the Hebrew Bible. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the land rulers and sky rulers and the theme of the firstborn in Genesis 1-3.

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Timestamps

Part one (00:00-14:38)
Part two (14:38-36:14)
Part three (36:14-55:26)
Part four (55:26-01:07:43)

Referenced Resources

Traditions of the Bible: A Guide to the Bible As It Was at the Start of the Common Era, James L. Kugel
Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
"Maple Leaves" by Stan Forebee & Inf
"In Between" by Enluv & Molly McPhaul
Stem from a license-free music library

Show produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder. Edited by Dan Gummel, Tyler Bailey, and Frank Garza. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by Hannah Woo.

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