Topical Bible: Hittites: Esau Intermarries With

◄ Hittites: Esau Intermarries With ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The Hittites were an ancient people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, known for their interactions with the patriarchs of Israel. They were one of the many Canaanite tribes inhabiting the land of Canaan before the Israelite conquest. The Hittites are often depicted as a significant presence in the region, with their influence extending into various aspects of life and culture.

Esau's Marriages to Hittite Women

Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, is a prominent figure in the Genesis narrative. Known for his impulsive nature and as the brother of Jacob, Esau's marriages to Hittite women are a notable aspect of his life account. These unions are recorded in the Book of Genesis and are significant for their impact on his family dynamics and the broader narrative of the Israelite patriarchs.

In Genesis 26:34-35 , it is written: "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. And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah." This passage highlights the distress caused to Esau's parents by his choice of wives. The marriages are portrayed as a source of familial tension, reflecting the cultural and religious differences between the Hittites and the family of Isaac.

The Hittite women, Judith and Basemath, are mentioned specifically by name, indicating their importance in the narrative. The text suggests that Esau's decision to marry outside of his family's lineage was not merely a personal choice but had broader implications for his relationship with his parents and his standing within the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac.

Cultural and Religious Implications

Esau's marriages to Hittite women are significant within the context of the Abrahamic covenant. The patriarchs were called to maintain a distinct identity, set apart from the surrounding Canaanite cultures, which included the Hittites. Marrying within the covenant community was seen as essential to preserving the faith and practices handed down from Abraham. Esau's choice to marry Hittite women, therefore, represented a departure from this tradition and was viewed negatively by his parents.

The grief experienced by Isaac and Rebekah can be understood as stemming from concerns over religious syncretism and the potential dilution of the covenantal promises. The Hittites, like other Canaanite tribes, practiced polytheism and had customs that were at odds with the monotheistic faith of the patriarchs. Esau's marriages symbolized a potential threat to the purity and continuity of the covenantal line.

Esau's Later Marriages

In response to his parents' displeasure, Esau later took additional wives from within his own family line. Genesis 28:8-9 states: "So Esau realized that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing to his father Isaac. 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." This action suggests an attempt by Esau to reconcile with his parents and align more closely with the covenantal expectations.

Esau's marriages to Hittite women and his subsequent actions illustrate the complex interplay of family dynamics, cultural influences, and covenantal faithfulness in the biblical narrative. These events underscore the challenges faced by the patriarchs in maintaining their distinct identity amidst the diverse and often conflicting cultures of the ancient Near East.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 26:34
And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 36:2
Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;
Nave's Topical Index