Lexical Summary Basemath: Basemath Original Word: בָּשְׂמַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bashemath, Basmath Feminine of besem (the second form); fragrance; Bosmath, the name of a wife of Esau, and of a daughter of Solomon -- Bashemath, Basmath. see HEBREW besem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as bosem Definition "perfume," a wife of Esau (or perhaps two wives with the same name), also a daughter of Solomon NASB Translation Basemath (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּֽשְׂמִת proper name, feminine (perfume ?) — 1 Hittite woman, a wife of Esau Genesis 26:34 (P); called daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth Genesis 36:3 (but due probably to R; this daughter of Ishmael is מַחֲלַת in Genesis 28:9 P); see also Genesis 36:4,10,13,17 (all P) (⅏ has מחלת throughout Genesis 36). 2 daughter of Solomon, wife of Ahimaaz 1 Kings 4:15. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Identificationבָּשְׂמַת (Basemath) appears seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures, designating three distinct women: two from the generation of the patriarch Esau (Genesis 26:34; Genesis 36:3-4, 10, 13, 17) and one from the court of King Solomon (1 Kings 4:15). Basemath Daughter of Elon the Hittite Genesis 26:34 introduces Esau’s first two Hittite wives: “When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite”. By uniting himself with the Canaanite population that God later commanded Israel to dispossess, Esau exemplified a disregard for the covenantal trajectory of his family. The grief those marriages caused Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:35) foreshadows the perpetual tension between covenant faithfulness and worldly alliance that runs throughout Israel’s story. Basemath Daughter of Ishmael, Sister of Nebaioth In Genesis 36:3-4 the narrative lists Esau’s additional wife: “and Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.” This union with Abraham’s non-covenant grandson reflects an attempt at course-correction. By choosing a bride from Abrahamic stock, Esau seems to seek parental approval (cf. Genesis 28:8-9, where she is called Mahalath). The shift of names across passages invites careful harmonization rather than skepticism. Scripture routinely supplies multiple names or titles for the same person (e.g., Gideon/Jerubbaal), and nothing in the text contradicts itself: Esau simply bore wives from both Hittite and Ishmaelite lines, the latter perhaps receiving two appellations—Mahalath by her father and Basemath by Esau’s clan. Basemath the Ishmaelite bore Esau Reuel (Genesis 36:4). Through Reuel, she became ancestress of Edomite chiefs: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah (Genesis 36:13, 17). Thus Basemath’s lineage shaped the early political structure of Edom, the nation that would stand as Israel’s neighbor, rival, and eschatological object lesson (Obadiah 1:10-21). Basemath Daughter of Solomon Centuries later, 1 Kings 4:15 records: “Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he had married Basemath the daughter of Solomon.” Her placement within the administrative roster of Solomon’s officials highlights how royal daughters were strategically married to loyal governors, consolidating the kingdom’s unity and extending covenant wisdom to the provinces. By naming her explicitly, the author underscores the breadth of Solomon’s household and the integration of his wisdom administration into everyday governance. Genealogical Harmony The overlapping wife-lists in Genesis 26, 28, and 36 feature the names Judith, Basemath, Mahalath, Adah, and Oholibamah. A straightforward reconciliation emerges: • Basemath (daughter of Elon) = Adah (Genesis 36:2). Multiple names may reflect alternate spellings, personal names versus clan names, or changes after marriage. Scripture consistently catalogs the same three women, maintaining narrative integrity while reflecting the complexities of ancient Near-Eastern naming customs. Covenant and Moral Theology Esau’s marital choices illuminate a recurring biblical motif: the dangers of intermarriage with peoples hostile to covenant faith (Exodus 34:16; Nehemiah 13:23-27). Basemath daughter of Elon stands as an early example of a spouse who, though personally unobjectionable in the text, embodies an alliance counter to redemptive purposes. Conversely, Basemath daughter of Ishmael demonstrates that even alliances within Abraham’s broader family can fall short of the line of promise when pursued for expedience rather than obedience. Historical and Redemptive Significance 1. Edomite Foundations: Through Basemath’s son Reuel, Edom’s tribal chieftains arise, setting the stage for later prophetic confrontations (Numbers 20:14-21; Obadiah 1:8-9). Practical Ministry Lessons • Spiritual Compatibility: Esau’s grief-inducing marriages remind believers to weigh covenant priorities over cultural convenience when forming life-long bonds (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). Summary Basemath’s name threads through patriarchal and monarchical narratives, linking early Edomite leadership with Solomon’s administrative expansion. Her appearances highlight themes of covenant fidelity, genealogical accuracy, and God’s sovereign shaping of nations through individual lives. Forms and Transliterations בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת בָּשְׂמַ֖ת בָּשְׂמַ֥ת בָשְׂמַ֖ת בשמת וּבָ֣שְׂמַ֔ת ובשמת bā·śə·maṯ ḇā·śə·maṯ baseMat bāśəmaṯ ḇāśəmaṯ ū·ḇā·śə·maṯ ūḇāśəmaṯ uVaseMat vaseMatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 26:34 HEB: הַֽחִתִּ֑י וְאֶת־ בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת בַּת־ אֵילֹ֖ן NAS: the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter KJV: the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter INT: of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath the daughter of Elon Genesis 36:3 Genesis 36:4 Genesis 36:10 Genesis 36:13 Genesis 36:17 1 Kings 4:15 7 Occurrences |
    |