The firstborn or firstborn son (Hebrew בְּכוֹר bəḵōr) is an important concept in Judaism. The role of firstborn son carries significance in the redemption of the first-born son, in the allocation of a double portion of the inheritance, and in the prophetic application of "firstborn" to the nation of Israel. Etymology and usage The semitic root B-K-R means "early" or "first" in Ancient Near East Semitic languages. Biblical Hebrew contains various verbs from the B-K-R stem with this association. The plural noun bikkurim (vegetable first fruits) also derives from this root. The masculine noun bekhor, firstborn, is used of sons, as "Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn" (Genesis 10:15), whereas the feminine noun, and female equivalent, is bekirah (בְּכִירָה), firstborn daughter. Derived from bechor is the qualitative noun bekhorah (בְּכוֹרָה) ("birthright"), related to primogeniture. Hebrew Bible The earliest account of primogeniture to be widely known in modern times involved Isaac's son Jacob being born second () and Isaac's son, Esau being born first () and entitled to the birthright, but eventually selling it to Isaac's second son, Jacob, for a small amount of food () A similar transfer is shown by the writer of 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 where, although the tribe of Judah prevailed above their brethren, nevertheless the birthright, the double portion of two tribal allotments, was Joseph's. According to the Law of Moses, the firstborn may be either the firstborn of his father, who is entitled to receive a double portion of his father's inheritance (compared to the other siblings), (Deuteronomy 21:17) or the firstborn of his mother. provides inheritance rules preventing the husband with more than one wife from leaving property to the son of the favoured wife. The Law of Moses elsewhere () commands the Israelites to give (perhaps "dedicate") "the firstborn of your sons" to Yahweh, and other similar verses have a requirement to "sanctify" all the firstborn (). Israel as God's firstborn In Exodus, Moses is instructed to say to Pharaoh "Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, my firstborn. () This is prophetically attached to Ephraim, the Kingdom of Israel in . Animal firstborn or "firstlings" Aside from the sacrifice of the "firstlings" by Abel, the Law of Moses also proscribes special distinction of animal firstborn. Death of the firstborn of Egypt The Egyptians also attached significance to primogeniture and birthright. The death of Pharaoh and the Egyptians' firstborn sons at the first