And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
Jacob said, Sell me ... thy birth-right - i:e., the rights and privileges of the first-born, which were very important. The Chief of these were a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17), the rule and authority over the younger members of the family (Genesis 27:9). And whether or no the first-born possessed also the sacred dignity of the family priest (Exodus 4:22), they had the promise of a permanent possession of Canaan for their future inheritance, and access to fellowship with God, through ordinances of His own appointment. These privileges being gifts of divine grace, the indifference or contempt displayed for them by Esau betrayed gross ingratitude to God.