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.View full show notes from this episode →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 ResourcesTraditions of the Bible: A Guide to the Bible As It Was at the Start of the Common Era, James L. KugelInterested 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 McPhaulStem from a license-free music libraryShow 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.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.