New American Standard Bible 1995

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Genesis

Note Journal Prayer

26

:

34

“

When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
When Esau oldest son of Isaac Noun H6215 עֵשָׂו֙ e·sav
Analysis:
Read more about: Esau
was forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֣ים ar·ba·'im
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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years a year Noun H8141 שָׁנָ֔ה sha·nah,
old son Noun H1121 בֶּן־ ben-
he married to take Verb H3947 וַיִּקַּ֤ח vai·yik·kach
Judith Esau's wife Noun H3067 יְהוּדִ֔ית ye·hu·dit,
the daughter daughter Noun H1323 בַּת־ bat-
of Beeri "my well," the name of a Hittite, also of Hosea's father Noun H882 בְּאֵרִ֖י be·'e·ri
Analysis:
Read more about: Beeri
the Hittite, desc. of Heth Noun H2850 הַֽחִתִּ֑י ha·chit·ti;
and Basemath "perfume," a wife of Esau (or perhaps two wives with the same name), also a daughter of Solomon Noun H1315 בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת ba·se·mat,
Analysis:
Read more about: Basemath
the daughter daughter Noun H1323 בַּת־ bat-
of Elon "terebinth," an Isr. name, also a Hittite, also a city in Dan Noun H356 אֵילֹ֖ן ei·lon
Analysis:
Read more about: Elon, Elon
the Hittite; desc. of Heth Noun H2850 הַֽחִתִּֽי׃ ha·chit·ti.

Locations

Elon

ELON (2)e'-lon ('elon, a "terebinth"; Ailon):A town in the territory of Dan named between Ithlah and Timnah (Joshua 19:43). It is possibly identical with Elon-beth-Hanan which, along with Shaalbim and Bethshemesh, formed one of Solomon's commissariat districts (1 Kings 4:9).Conder has suggested Beit' Anan, about 4 miles Northwest of Neby Samwil: it is quite... View Details

People

Esau

Esau [N] [H] [S] hairy, Rebekah's first-born twin son ( Genesis 25:25 ). The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from his conduct in connection with the red lentil "pottage" for which he sold his birthright (30,31). The circumstances connected with his birth foreshadowed the enmity which afterwards subsisted between the twin brothers and the nations they founded ( Genesis 25:22  Gene... View Details

Elon

Elon [N] [H] [S] oak.  A city of Dan ( Joshua 19:43 ).  A Hittite, father of Bashemath, Esau's wife ( Genesis 26:34 ).  One of the sons of Zebulun ( Genesis 46:14 ).  The eleventh of the Hebrew judges. He held office for ten years ( Judges 12:11  Judges 12:12 ). He is called the Zebulonite.    These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easto... View Details

Beeri

|my well,| the name of a Hittite, also of Hosea's father

Basemath

|perfume,| a wife of Esau (or perhaps two wives with the same name), also a daughter of Solomon

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;
King James Bible When And Esau was forty years old when he married took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;Hittite:
Hebrew Greek English When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite;