Because the Hebrews followed the custom of primogeniture and practiced polygyny (the practice of a man marrying more than one woman at a time) at the same time, some students of the Bible have become confused as to which of the "firstborn" sons of the various wives and concubines was really the "birthright" son. If the father had only one wife at any one time during his life, then it would be immediately evident which son would be the "firstborn" son. However, if the father had been a polygynist with two or more wives at the same time, the problem of successorship could be more difficult since each of the wives could have a firstborn son. The Hebrews were not confused on this matter, however, as they had developed the custom that the order of the marriage of the wives would be given first consideration in determining the order of the son to succeed the father as head of the family.
Thus, the firstborn son of the first wife became the birthright son, if worthy. If the firstborn son of the first wife proved unworthy and if the father had sons from more than one wife, then the firstborn son of the second wife became the new birthright son, and so on. These practices and customs help explain why Ishmael was first considered to be the birthright son of Abraham: he was the eldest son of Abraham and was the firstborn son of the second wife (Hagar). However, when Isaac was born, he became the new birthright son by the order of primogeniture because he was the firstborn son of the first wife (Sarah).
The law or practice of primogeniture also helps explain how Joseph eventually became the head of the house or family of Israel, even though Joseph was the eleventh of the twelve sons of Jacob. Reuben was the initial birthright son of Jacob and was first in line to succeed his father, since he was the firstborn son of the first wife (Leah). However, Reuben lost the right to the birthright when he committed adultery with one of his father's wives (Bilhah). Through application of the law of primogeniture, Joseph then became the new birthright son because he was the firstborn son of the second wife (Rachel). In polygynous marriages, all of the firstborn sons of the various wives would be considered as the new leader before any of the second born or other sons. Only in monogamous marriages would the second born son be immediately considered as the potential new leader if the firstborn son proved unworthy.
The Bible is not exactly clear as to why Jacob (the second born son) succeeded Esau (the firstborn son) as the head of Isaac's family, although it does mention that Isaac and Rebekah were sorely displeased and of "a grief of mind" because Esau had married wives of the Hittites (Gen. 26:34-35). Isaac also specifically forbade Jacob to "take a wife of the daughters of Canaan" (Gen. 28:1), and Rebekah lamented "if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?" (Gen. 27:46.) Evidently the poor marriage choices of Esau disqualified him as the new leader of the house of Isaac, as well as the selling of his birthright for a mess of pottage. (Gen. 25:29-34.)
The Bible is even less clear as to why Ephraim (the second born) replaces Manasseh (the firstborn) as the birthright son of Joseph. Evidently Jacob received a vision or revelation from the Lord concerning the fact that Ephraim was to have the birthright. (Gen. 48:8-20.) This is not only substantiated by the Joseph Smith Translation account of this episode, but the Lord himself declared later in the biblical account, "For I am Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." (Jer. 31:9.)
--Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, Daniel H. Ludlow.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tLoL5K0TRJKa9V2PwOc9syq8OMvcSKT9-EBywq21fDE/edit?usp=sharing
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