Bas'emath, also spelled Basemath, is a name found in the Old Testament, associated with two distinct women who were connected to the patriarch Esau, the brother of Jacob. The name Bas'emath is of Hebrew origin, meaning "fragrance" or "perfume," which may reflect the cultural significance of names in biblical times, often indicative of personal attributes or familial hopes.

1. Bas'emath, Daughter of Elon the Hittite: Bas'emath is first mentioned as one of Esau's wives in Genesis 26:34. "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite." This marriage, along with Esau's other unions with Canaanite women, was a source of grief to his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, as noted in Genesis 26:35: "They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah." The union with Bas'emath, a Hittite, highlights Esau's departure from the covenantal lineage, which traditionally sought to marry within the family or at least within the broader Semitic community.

2. Bas'emath, Daughter of Ishmael: Another Bas'emath is mentioned in Genesis 36:3 as a wife of Esau, identified as the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. "And Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth." This Bas'emath is also referred to as Mahalath in Genesis 28:9, where Esau takes her as a wife in an attempt to please his father Isaac after realizing that his Canaanite wives were displeasing to his parents. This marriage signifies Esau's attempt to align himself more closely with his family's Abrahamic heritage, as Ishmael was the son of Abraham.

The dual mention of Bas'emath in different contexts has led to some scholarly debate regarding whether these references pertain to one individual with different names or two separate individuals. The genealogical records in Genesis 36 provide a detailed account of Esau's descendants, where Bas'emath, the daughter of Ishmael, is noted as the mother of Reuel, one of Esau's sons.

In the broader narrative of Genesis, the marriages of Esau, including those to women named Bas'emath, serve to contrast his life choices with those of his brother Jacob, who is depicted as the chosen heir of the Abrahamic covenant. Esau's alliances through marriage reflect his integration into the surrounding Canaanite and Ishmaelite cultures, which stands in contrast to the covenantal line that would continue through Jacob and his descendants.

The account of Bas'emath, in its various mentions, underscores themes of familial relationships, cultural integration, and the complexities of maintaining covenantal identity amidst external influences. These narratives contribute to the larger biblical themes of faithfulness, identity, and the unfolding of God's promises through the chosen lineage.Bas'emath (7 Occurrences)

Genesis 26:34
And when Esau was forty years old, he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
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Genesis 36:3
and Basemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.
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Genesis 36:4
And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bore Reuel;
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Genesis 36:10
These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.
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Genesis 36:13
And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath Esau's wife.
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Genesis 36:17
And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son: the chief of Nahath, the chief of Zerah, the chief of Shammah, the chief of Mizzah. These are the chiefs that came of Reuel in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Basemath Esau's wife.
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1 Kings 4:15
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali; he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife;
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Bas'emath (7 Occurrences)
Bas'emath. Basemath, Bas'emath. Basement . Multi-Version Concordance
Bas'emath (7 Occurrences). Genesis 26:34 And when Esau was ...
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Basemath (7 Occurrences)

/b/basemath.htm - 9k

Basement (1 Occurrence)

/b/basement.htm - 6k

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