Character in [[Genesis]] # Basic info - Father: [[Isaac]] - Introduced in [[Genesis]], in particular [[Genesis 25]]. - The firstborn of [[Isaac]] - Esau "was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment" ([[Genesis 25]]:24) - Also known as [[Edom]] - Sold birthright to [[Jacob]] in [[Genesis 25]], then got blessing stolen by him in [[Genesis 27]] # Name - "Esau" sounds like Hebrew `se'ar` meaning "hairy" - [[Edom]]ites later live in Mount Seir, in this case `se'ir` probably meaning "wooded" - "[[Edom]]" sounds similar to Hebrew `'admoni` meaning "reddish" - It's interesting to note that Esau came out "reddish" at birth, as well as demanding "red stuff" to eat when hungry (double explanations for the name "[[Edom]]") # Wive There are two potentially conflicting list of wives of [[Esau]]: - [[Genesis 26]] and [[Genesis 28]] - [[Genesis 36]] This gives anywhere from 3-6 wives listed: | # | Name(s) in text | Father / Lineage | People-group | Main verses | Possible identity overlap | | --- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | [[Judith]] <br>➔ *possibly* [[Oholibamah]] | - [[Beeri]] ([[Hittite]])<br>- [[Anah]] son of [[Zibeon]] ([[Hivite]]) | - [[Hittite]]<br>- [[Hivite]] | - [[Genesis 26]]:34<br>- [[Genesis 36]]:2 | Traditional view merges but some treat them as distinct | | 2 | [[Basemath]] ↔ [[Adah]] | [[Elon]] the [[Hittite]] | [[Hittite]] | - [[Genesis 26]]:34<br>- [[Genesis 36]]:2 | Same father and ethnicity | | 3 | [[Mahalath]] ↔ [[Basemath]] | [[Ishmael]] — sister of [[Nebaioth]] | [[Ishmael]]ite | - [[Genesis 28]]:9<br>- [[Genesis 36]]:3 | Identical parentage |