Having been recently reminded of the prophet Samuel’s selection of David to succeed Saul, I was put in mind of a motif I noticed some time back:
It seems that there are many instances of the LORD choosing younger or youngest sons over the more traditional Hebrew heir (eldest son). What are both the critical interpretations and traditional Jewish interpretations of the significance and meaning of thie lietmotif?
I never really though about this until now. Maybe it’s a way of saying that HaShem disapproves of the eldest son automatically being the heir to the family wealth and power (primogeniture?).
Indeed. It’s a motif asserting the importance, in G-d’s eyes, of personal merit over accident of chronology.
That said, the first-born right does have some meaning…but only when all other factors are equal.
Hey-- Don’t forget Rachel being chosen over Leah! (Just to develop the theme a little bit…)