The genealogical records in Genesis list Esau’s wives with variations in names and descriptions, leading some to claim there is a contradiction in the biblical account. Genesis 26:34 records Esau marrying Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite. However, Genesis 36:2-3 states that Esau’s wives were Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah, daughter of Anah, and Basemath, daughter of Ishmael.
Further complicating matters, Genesis 28:8-9 adds that Esau, seeing that his marriages to Canaanite women displeased his parents, took Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael, as another wife. The question arises: How do we reconcile these different names and descriptions?
Cultural and Linguistic Considerations
Ancient genealogical records were often flexible in name usage, as individuals frequently had more than one name. This was common due to cultural, linguistic, and familial variations. Some names may have been birth names, while others reflected marriage, title, or religious associations. This is similar to how biblical figures like Gideon were also known as Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32) or how Naomi asked to be called Mara (Ruth 1:20).
Esau’s wives may have had multiple names, depending on the context. This is further supported by the practice of renaming in biblical times, where people were given different names based on events or family circumstances.
Identifying Esau’s Wives
Genesis 26:34 states that Esau married Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite. However, in Genesis 36:2, the names appear differently: Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah, daughter of Anah the Hivite. Additionally, Genesis 36:3 introduces Basemath as the daughter of Ishmael, which seems to differ from Genesis 26.
A likely explanation is that Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, either died childless or did not hold prominence in Esau’s lineage, which is why she is omitted in Genesis 36. Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite, is likely the same person as Adah, as it was not unusual for people to have two names. Similarly, Basemath, daughter of Ishmael, is referred to in Genesis 28:9 as Mahalath, another example of a dual name.
The Additional Wife and the Family’s Displeasure
Genesis 28:8-9 explains that Esau realized that his marriages to Canaanite women displeased his father, Isaac. As a result, he took another wife, Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael. This suggests Esau’s attempt to gain favor with his father by marrying within the extended Abrahamic family. Mahalath is identified in Genesis 36:3 as Basemath, daughter of Ishmael.
The variations in names do not indicate a contradiction but rather reflect the fluidity of naming practices in the ancient world. Basemath and Mahalath were likely the same person, just referred to differently in different contexts.
The Significance of Esau’s Marriages
Esau’s choice of wives had significant consequences. His marriage to Hittite women displeased his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, who sought to keep the family line separate from Canaanite influences. In contrast, his brother Jacob was sent to find a wife among his own relatives in Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:1-2).
Despite Esau’s later attempt to rectify this mistake by marrying into Ishmael’s line, his earlier marriages to Canaanite women reflected a disregard for the covenantal distinction that his family upheld. This was a key reason why Jacob, not Esau, became the inheritor of Jehovah’s promises to Abraham.
The marriages of Esau illustrate how choices in marriage could impact one’s spiritual standing and family relationships. His alliances with Canaanite families led to a separation from the chosen line, while Jacob’s obedience in seeking a wife from among his relatives ensured the continuation of Jehovah’s covenant.
Conclusion
The supposed contradiction regarding Esau’s wives is resolved by recognizing the common practice of multiple names in biblical times. Judith, Adah, Basemath, and Mahalath likely refer to the same individuals under different names, either due to cultural differences or renaming. The omission of Judith from Genesis 36 may indicate that she had no children or was less significant in the genealogy.
Rather than presenting a contradiction, the accounts of Esau’s marriages highlight the importance of obedience to God’s instructions regarding marriage and the consequences of disregarding those principles. Esau’s choices distanced him from the covenant line, underscoring the importance of faithfulness in family and spiritual matters.
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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