Israel is my son, even my firstborn] This expresses God's choice of Israel as His peculiar people: cp. Deuteronomy 14:1; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:9, and see on Exodus 19:5. The term 'firstborn' indicates the high honour conferred upon Israel, and at the same time contains a hint of the ultimate inclusion of the Gentiles also in the covenant.

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