BASHEMATH, BASMATH (R. V., BASEMATH):

  • 1. One of the wives of Esau. In Gen. xxvi. 34 she is described as "the daughter of Elon the Hittite." According to the same source, Esau had another wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, the sister of Nebajoth; but in Gen. xxxvi. 2 the first of Esau's wives is stated to be Adah, "the daughter of Elon the Hittite," and Bashemath is described as the daughter of Ishmael, the sister of Nebajoth. The Samaritan text avoids the conflict between the different narratives by substituting Mahalath for Bashemath in Gen. xxxvi.
  • 2. A daughter of Solomon, and wife of Ahimaaz. The latter was one of the twelve purveyors for theroyal household, and was assigned to the district of Naphtali (I Kings iv. 15).
J. Jr. C. F. K.
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