Musar for Bava Batra 231:16
זה הכלל כל הקודם בנחלה יוצאי ירכו קודמין והאב קודם לכל יוצאי ירכו: בעי רמי בר חמא אבי האב ואחי האב כגון אברהם וישמעאל בנכסי עשו איזה מהן קודם אמר רבא תא שמע האב קודם לכל יוצאי ירכו ורמי בר חמא
who will invoke [heavenly] mercy for him; as it is said: <i>The wrath of a king<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' God's visitation. ');"><sup>26</sup></span></i> is as messengers of death,' but a wise man will pacify it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. XVI, 14. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> THIS IS THE GENERAL RULE: THE LINEAL DESCENDANTS OF ANY ONE WITH A PRIORITY TO SUCCESSION TAKE PRECEDENCE. A FATHER TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER ALL HIS DESCENDANTS. Rami b. Hama inquired: [With regard to the claims of] a father of the father<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the deceased. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> and a brother of the father,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the deceased. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> as, for example, [the claims of] Abraham and Ishmael upon the possessions of Esau,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Abraham was the father, and Ishmael the brother of Isaac the father of Esau. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> who takes precedence? — Raba said: Come and hear: A FATHER TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER ALL HIS DESCENDANTS.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He takes, therefore, precedence over a brother of the father of the deceased who is his descendant. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> And Rami b. Hama?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Did he not know the law of our Mishnah? ');"><sup>31</sup></span> —