Inheritances

Question: What is the appropriate way of handling inheritances? Does the Biblical law of primogeniture still apply in this society?

Answer: The Bible explicitly requires parents to honor the eldest son's rights of inheritance. Notice what Yahweh commanded:

"...on the day when he assigns ['wills'; NASB] his possessions as an inheritance to his sons,...he shall acknowledge the first born,...by giving him a double portion of all that he has,...the right of the first-born is his" (Deut. 21:16-17).

"If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter..." (Num. 27:8).

The eldest son gets twice as much as the other sons. For example, if a man has three sons, the inheritance is divided into four parts. The eldest son gets two parts. The others get one part each.

These two references together show as well, that a man having only one living son gets all the inheritance-all his father's possessions. The daughters and mother are not to be willed part of the inheritance when there is one son living. However, the son or eldest son-in the father's absence-is responsible for his sisters (until they marry) and mother. See Yahshua's example (John 19:27).

Yahweh's inheritance laws tell us all the father's possessions go to the family. His possessions-in part or whole-are not to be willed to charities, churches, or other 'causes' looking for a handout. -ICY