Deu 21:15-17 | NET2full | STEP | Suppose a man has two wives , one whom he loves more than the other , and they both bear him sons , with the firstborn being the child of the less-loved wife .

Deuteronomy 21:15-17

Laws Concerning Children

15 Suppose a man has two wives, one whom he loves more than the other, ^{▼▼tn Heb “one whom he loves and one whom he hates.” For the idea of שָׂנֵא (saneʾ, “hate”) meaning to be rejected or loved less (cf. NRSV “disliked”), see Gen 29:31, 33; Mal 1:2-3. Cf. A. Konkel, NIDOTTE 3:1256-60.} and they both ^{▼▼tn Heb “both the one whom he loves and the one whom he hates.” On the meaning of the phrase “one whom he loves and one whom he hates” see the note on the word “other” earlier in this verse. The translation has been simplified for stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy.} bear him sons, with the firstborn being the child of the less-loved wife. 16 In the day he divides his inheritance ^{▼▼tn Heb “when he causes his sons to inherit what is his.”} he must not appoint as firstborn the son of the favorite wife in place of the other wife’s ^{▼▼tn Heb “the hated.”} son who is actually the firstborn. 17 Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less-loved wife ^{▼▼tn See note on the word “other” in v. 15.} as firstborn and give him the double portion ^{▼▼tn Heb “measure of two.” The Hebrew expression פִּי שְׁנַיִם (pi shenayim) suggests a two-thirds split; that is, the elder gets two parts and the younger one part. Cf. 2 Kgs 2:9; Zech 13:8. The practice is implicit in Isaac’s blessing of Jacob (Gen 25:31-34) and Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim (Gen 48:8-22).} of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father’s procreative power ^{▼▼tn Heb “his generative power” (אוֹן, ʾon; cf. HALOT 22 s.v.). Cf. NAB “the firstfruits of his manhood”; NRSV “the first issue of his virility.”} —to him should go the right of the firstborn.