Bible Dictionaries
Basemath

Holman Bible Dictionary

(bass' eh math) Personal name meaning, “balsam.” 1. A Hittite woman whom Esau married, grieving his parents, Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:1 : 34-35; Genesis 27:46 ). Some differences in her name and ancestors appear. In Genesis 28:9 , Esau married Mahalath, daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebajoth. In Genesis 36:3 , Basemath is Ishmael's daughter and Nebajoth's sister. Apparently, all three passages refer to the same woman. How one explains the complexity of names, relationships, and backgrounds is not certain. Some talk of literary sources; others of new names given women at marriage; others of copyists' changes of the text. Reuel, Basemath's son, became father of four clans in Edom (Genesis 36:10 ,Genesis 36:10,36:13 ,Genesis 36:13,36:17 ). 2 . Daughter of Solomon who married Ahimaaz, district supervisor providing supplies for the royal court from Naphtali (1 Kings 4:15 ).