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If this be not plain enough in the story of Isaac and Ishmael, he that will look into
I Chron. vs. I. may
there read these words: Reuben was the first-born, but
foreasmuch as he defies his father's bed, his birth right was given to the sons of Joseph,
the son of Israel, and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth right; for Judah
prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was
Joseph's. What this birthright was, Jacob, blessing Joseph (Gen. xlviii. 22),
telleth us in these words: "Moreover, I have given thee one portion above thy
brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
" Whereby it is not only plain that the birthright was nothing but a double portion,
but the text in Chronicles is express against our author's doctrine and shows that dominion
was not part of the birthright; for it tells us that Joseph had the birthright but Judah the dominion.
John Locke From
Two Treatises of Government - The First Treatise - Chapter XI, 115.
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