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Genesis 28:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 28:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham`s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham`s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
Genesis 28:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence. And that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
7And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram.
8And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father.
9And Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham`s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
10And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.
11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12And he dreamed. And behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then went Esau unto Ishmael, etc.] Not to Ishmael in person, for he was now dead, (<012517>Genesis 25:17), and had been dead as is reckoned about fourteen years before this, but to the house of Ishmael: and took unto the wives which he had; the daughters of Heth, and who seem by this to be both alive at this time: Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son; the same with Bashemath, (<013603>Genesis 36:3); as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, this person having two names, and is further described, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife; who was the eldest son of Ishmael, and, his father being dead, was the principal in the family; and this woman Esau took to wife was his sister by his…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification