Topical Encyclopedia Basemath is a name mentioned in the Old Testament, associated with two distinct women who were connected to the family of Esau, the brother of Jacob. The name Basemath, which can also be spelled as Bashemath, is derived from a Hebrew word meaning "fragrance" or "perfume."1. Basemath, Daughter of Elon the Hittite: Basemath is first introduced in Genesis 26:34 as one of the wives of Esau. "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." (Genesis 26:34). 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: "And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah." The union with Basemath, a Hittite, reflects Esau's departure from the covenantal family line, which traditionally sought to marry within their own kin to preserve the Abrahamic covenant. 2. Basemath, Daughter of Ishmael: Another Basemath is mentioned in Genesis 36:3 as a wife of Esau, but she is identified as the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son through Hagar. "And Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth." (Genesis 36:3). This Basemath 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. "So Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had." (Genesis 28:9). This marriage signifies Esau's attempt to align himself more closely with his family's heritage, as Ishmael was a son of Abraham. The dual mention of Basemath in different contexts has led to some scholarly debate regarding whether these references pertain to the same individual or if they are indeed two separate women. The genealogical records in Genesis 36 provide further insight into Esau's descendants, where Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael, is noted as the mother of Reuel, one of Esau's sons (Genesis 36:4). In the broader narrative of Genesis, the marriages of Esau, including those to women named Basemath, highlight the tensions between Esau and his family, particularly in relation to the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac. Esau's choices in marriage are often contrasted with those of Jacob, who sought to marry within the family lineage, thus emphasizing the theme of covenant fidelity and the continuation of God's promises through specific family lines. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia BASEMATH; BASHEMATH; BASMATHbas'-e-math, bash'-e-math, bas'-math (basemath, "fragrant"): Strong's Hebrew 1315. Basemath -- "perfume," a wife of Esau (or perhaps two wives ...... 1314, 1315. Basemath. 1316 . "perfume ... Solomon. Transliteration: Basemath Phonetic Spelling: (bos-math') Short Definition: Basemath. ... /hebrew/1315.htm - 6k Library Chapter xxxvi The Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee - the Miracle that is a Sign ... Chapter xxvi Thesaurus Basemath (7 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BASEMATH; BASHEMATH; BASMATH. bas'-e-math, bash'-e-math, bas'-math (basemath, "fragrant"): (1) Basemath... /b/basemath.htm - 9k Bas'emath (7 Occurrences) Bashemath (6 Occurrences) Basmath (7 Occurrences) Reuel (14 Occurrences) Reu'el (10 Occurrences) Adah (8 Occurrences) Esau's (13 Occurrences) Nahath (5 Occurrences) Grandsons (9 Occurrences) Resources Who was Naphtali in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Ahimaaz in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Basemath (7 Occurrences)Genesis 26:34 Genesis 36:3 Genesis 36:4 Genesis 36:10 Genesis 36:13 Genesis 36:17 1 Kings 4:15 Subtopics Related Terms |
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