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51. Who was Bashemath’s father? Genesis 26:34 vs. Genesis 36:2-3

It’s kind of like asking who Julie’s father is, isn’t it?

Genesis 26:34
When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;

Genesis 36:3
Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Basemath, Ishmaels daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

So let’s do a quick wife head-count, for ease of reference:

1. Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite
2. Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite
   .
3. Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite
4. Aholibamah, daughter of Anah/Zibeon the Hivite
5. Basemath, daughter of Ishmael

We’ve looked at the concept that names, in the ancient civilizations the Old Testament records, are not non-negotiable like they are today. Heritage was important; names could change.

Since the heritage of the two “Basemath”s are different, an ancient reader would naturally infer that they are different women.

Gill’s Exposition notes that first-century secular Jewish historian, Josephus, and distinguished 12th-century Jewish scholar, Aben Ezra agree that the Basemath from Genesis 26 (Wife #2) and Adah from Genesis 36 (Wife #3) are probably the same woman. Which analysis again demonstrates the importance of heritage over names.

Short answer: Elon was the father of one, and Ishamel was the father of another.

And scores more fathers for scores more Basemaths could probably be found, if we only had more six thousand year-old family records.