The Bible is inconsistent in Genesis regarding Esau's wives...Clear this up?

Question

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

In Genesis 28:9, the Bible says "Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had."

In Genesis 36:2-3, the Bible says "Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah son of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth."

Thus, we see the following:
1)Judith--Daughter of Beeri the Hittite
2)Basemath--daughter of Elon the Hittite
3)Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael

1)Adah--daughter of Elon
2)Oholibamah--daughter of Anah, granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite
3)Basemath--daughter of Ismael

I've been told that perhaps Adah is the former Basemath and the latter Basemath is the former Mahalath, but what about Judith and Oholibamah?

This is inconsistent?

Answer 1

if i had to guess .. there were probably a few more that werent even mentioned ..

Answer 2

*** it-1 p. 759 Esau ***

At the age of 40, Esau made his own arrangements for marriage. By choice he became a polygamist, and unlike his father Isaac, who had let his father Abraham arrange for a wife from the worshipers of Jehovah, Esau took two pagan Hittite women, Judith (Oholibamah?) and Basemath (Adah?), as wives. These women proved to be a source of bitterness of spirit to both Isaac and Rebekah.—Ge 26:34, 35; 36:2; 24:1-4, 50, 51



*** it-2 p. 139 Judith ***

(Ju′dith) [feminine form of Judah].

A wife of Esau; daughter of Beeri the Hittite and a constant source of bitterness to Isaac and Rebekah. (Ge 26:34, 35) She is perhaps the same as Oholibamah at Genesis 36:2.



*** it-2 p. 546 Oholibamah ***

(O·hol·i·ba′mah) [Tent of the High Place].

1. A Canaanite wife of Esau. She bore him three sons, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah, all of whom became sheiks of Edom. Oholibamah was a daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Hivite Zibeon.—Ge 36:2, 5-8, 14, 18, 25; see ANAH



*** it-1 p. 259 Basemath ***

(Bas′e·math) [Perfumed; Balsam Oil; Spicy].

1. A wife of Esau. She was a daughter of Elon the Hittite, therefore either the same person as Adah or her sister. Basemath was “a source of bitterness” to Isaac and Rebekah.—Ge 26:34, 35; 27:46; 28:8; 36:2.

hope this helps clear it up for you

Answer 3

Long ago it was more acceptable to have more than one wife, but today it is not acceptable. Somewhat similarly siblings who were immediate children of Adam and Eve could marry each other, but that is wrong today; part of the difficulties are in the genetics, but I am not qualified in that area to explain.

I believe that the Bible teaches Esau had 13 wives total, but I am not sure of the exact count.

The 4 wife limit is a later precept; but I am not qualified in Arab literature on that question.

Answer 4

At first, Esau took two wives, Judith and Basemath. But they were very displeasing to Esau’s parents because they were Canaanites, and thus could not share in the covenant blessing of Abraham. So Esau took a third wife, whose name was also Basemath. However, this third wife was from the line of Ishmael, and thus ethnically acceptable to Esau’s parents. This maneuver advanced Esau’s plot of revenge against Jacob, who had obtained the Abrahamic birthright by deception, because if Jacob were to die, the birthright would revert to Esau, but that would only be meaningful if Esau were to have children in the Abrahamic line who could inherit the blessing. Basemath the Ishmaelite woman solved this problem. However, it would be inconvenient to have two wives with the same name, so, according to Near Eastern tradition, Esau renamed her to Mahalath, whose new name referred to the “sweetness of forgiveness,” a not so subtle hint from Esau to his parents that he was very sorry for distressing them with his earlier wives. These first two wives he renamed to Adah (formerly Basemath) and Oholibamah (formerly Judith). Both of these new names are linked with living in tents as opposed to the rough life of the field, and this advanced another theme of Esau, that he had outgrown the immaturity of his youth and was now on track to the more civilized lifestyle of the tent-dwellers. Even the difference in reference to Oholibamah’s father appears related to this tent theme, as his earlier reference identified him as a cave-dweller, but his later title as the name he was given when he moved among the tent dwellers, his country name and his downtown name, as it were. By this Esau hoped to ease his parents pain and make them see him in a better light. Then, if Jacob died, they would have no problem reassigning the birthright to him. Unfortunately for Esau, all his scheming came to nothing, as Jacob survived and had children, who would become the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob’s changed name), and the rightful inheritors of the Abrahamic blessing.

Answer 5

He took multiple wives, and His parents weren't happy, so he took more wives. He had serious problems, but how is this a problem for you????

Answer 6

people were often called by more than one name in the bible.

Answer 7

:-)

we already know it dear... thanks anyway. Just ignorant people who still believe with what written on it. But believe is believe. We can not force people to disbelieve it. What you did is good, hopefully it can open people mind.


peace

Answer 8

im not aware of this but im sure if you look deeper you will find your in error.

Answer 9

Mate it's all BS nothing to clear up ok!!!!