Topical Bible: Polygamy: Esau

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Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of polygamy. His life and marital choices are documented in the Book of Genesis, providing insight into the practice of polygamy during the patriarchal period.

Background

Esau, also known as Edom, was the twin brother of Jacob. As the firstborn, Esau was entitled to the birthright, which he famously sold to Jacob for a meal of bread and lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34). This transaction set the stage for future tensions between the brothers and had lasting implications for their descendants.

Marriages of Esau

Esau's marital decisions are recorded in Genesis and are noteworthy for their deviation from the practices of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, who were monogamous. Esau's choice of wives is seen as a source of grief to his parents, particularly to Rebekah.

1. Hittite Wives: Esau's first marriages were to two Hittite women, Judith the daughter of Beeri and Basemath the daughter of Elon. Genesis 26:34-35 states, "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." These marriages were contrary to the desires of his parents, who preferred that their sons marry within their own kin, as Abraham had arranged for Isaac.

2. Ishmaelite Wife: In an attempt to please his father, Esau took a third wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son. Genesis 28:8-9 records, "So Esau realized that the daughters of Canaan were displeasing to his father Isaac, and he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had." This marriage to a relative of his grandfather Abraham was an effort to align more closely with his family's expectations, though it did not negate the earlier choices that had caused familial discord.

Cultural and Theological Implications

Esau's polygamous marriages reflect the broader cultural practices of the time, where polygamy was not uncommon among the surrounding nations. However, his choices are portrayed negatively within the biblical narrative, primarily due to the grief they caused his parents and the alliances they represented with the Canaanite peoples, who were often at odds with the descendants of Abraham.

From a theological perspective, Esau's marriages are often contrasted with the monogamous unions of his forebears, highlighting a departure from the covenantal ideals established by God with Abraham and Isaac. The narrative suggests that Esau's disregard for these ideals contributed to his diminished role in the biblical account, as the covenantal promises were carried forward through Jacob.

Legacy

Esau's descendants, the Edomites, became a significant nation, often in conflict with Israel. The polygamous nature of Esau's family life is seen as a precursor to the complex and often adversarial relationships between the Edomites and the Israelites. The biblical account of Esau serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of marital choices that deviate from divine expectations and familial guidance.

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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:
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Genesis 28:9
Then went Esau to Ishmael, and took to the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
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Library

The Israelites
... Had the name of Esau not been preserved we should not have known the true ... David were
troubled by revolts which had their origin partly in the polygamy in which ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Index of Subjects. Abel, 124, 136, 193, 414.
... Isaac, [875]403. Israel, the spiritual, [876]99, [877]102, [878]103. Jacob and Esau,
[879]398, [880]423. James, St., misinterpreted by the Pelagians, [881]126. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/index of subjects abel 124.htm