When Did Esau Really Make His Choices? Examining the Details

In this article, you will learn how Genesis 36:2 contradicts Genesis 26:34 and Genesis 28:9. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..

In the book of Genesis, the story of Esau presents some intriguing contradictions regarding his marital choices. These discrepancies can be likened to a puzzle with pieces that don't seem to fit together, raising questions about the purpose and meaning behind these variations.

Firstly, Genesis 36:2 tells us that Esau took his wives from the people of Canaan. Here, the text names Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite. However, if we turn back a few chapters to Genesis 26:34, we see a different story. In this passage, Esau is said to have married Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. This immediately raises an eyebrow—are Adah and Aholibamah the same as Judith and Bashemath? Or were there simply more wives than initially accounted for?

To add another layer to this narrative, Genesis 28:9 introduces Mahalath, Esau's wife from the family of Ishmael, who is noticeably absent from the list in Genesis 36:2. This is reminiscent of a story told from multiple viewpoints where each narrator emphasizes different aspects or details, creating a more complex picture. It causes readers to wonder why these differences exist and what they might signify for Esau’s relationship with his family and the overarching narrative of Genesis.

These varying accounts of Esau's wives invite deeper exploration into the historical and cultural context of these texts. They may reflect different traditions or emphasize Esau's divergence from family expectations—much like someone charting their own path despite societal norms. These contradictions challenge readers to consider how narratives evolve and raise questions about the lessons and messages that each version seeks to convey.