Judith & Basemath

SO, through the years, I have often chosen to do a “read the Bible in a year” program as part of my daily devotions for that year. So far, I’ve read the NIV, AMPC, NLT and MSG versions. Last year I took a little detour and read an overview called Meet the Bible by Philip Yancey and Brenda Quinn.

Please know, I’m not bragging or trying to one-up anyone; I realize there are many, many people who can’t even tell you how many times they’ve read it cover to cover. My own experience is simply background for what happened to me this morning during my devotions. This year I decided I’d read through the Bible again, but at my own pace instead of following a prescribed program. Some mornings I’ve read half a chapter, some mornings a whole chapter, some mornings more than one chapter. I chose a version called The Swindoll Study Bible NLT, which contains side notes, some commentary, and even some of his sermons. And I’m enjoying the process – so that’s a plus.

This morning I was reading the twenty-sixth chapter of Genesis which contains part of the story of Isaac and Rebekah and their sons, Esau and Jacob. When I came to the end of the chapter there was a verse that sort of stopped me in my tracks. Since I know I’ve read this chapter at least four times, it stands to reason that I must have read that verse before – more than once. But today it was like I was seeing it for the first time. It was such a jarring note and seemed to announce so much, and yet explain so little, that I found myself wondering what the point of it was. Here’s the verse:

Genesis 26:34-35 “When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” (NIV) (In the CSB version there’s a footnote about what the literal translation says: “And they became bitterness of spirit …”)

And that’s where the chapter ends! Do you have the same reaction I did? I found myself thinking, “What in the world? Shouldn’t there be a little more there?” So, I moved on to the next chapter hoping for a little clarity. No such luck. Chapter 27 opens with the saga of Jacob stealing his father’s blessing from Esau – with his mother’s help. And the next time we hear about Judith and Basemath, their names are not even mentioned. Chapter 27 ends with this: “Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”

Now, I know that as women, most of us have the natural ability to be extremely dramatic … especially when we’ve been driven to the edge … or we need to make a point to the men in our life that they can’t miss. And I imagine Rebekah had that skill too – but still, that seems a little over the top. So, if she really, truly felt that way, those two women must have really been something! And not something good!

But it got me to thinking about how I would like to be remembered … especially in the unlikely event that someone is reading about me 4,000 years from now! And those two statements about Judith and Basemath are not anywhere on my list! Probably not on yours either.

All of the above was written a few days ago … the saga continued the next morning …

Turns out that Rebekah’s disgust with her daughters-in-law is the reason Jacob was sent to his uncle … and that led to his encounter with God in Haran, his meeting Rachel and falling in love, his future father-in-law tricking him into marrying Leah before he was allowed to marry Rachel, after which he married two more women. And then, because God favored him, he became very wealthy, moved back home to his family (Esau had moved away by then), and eventually the eleventh of his twelve sons was born – they named him Joseph. You might remember him – he’s the one who was sold into slavery by his brothers, worked his way up to be manager of his owner’s home, where his owner’s wife tried to seduce him, failed, and incited her husband to throw him in prison. After twelve years, through his relationship with the Lord, he was brought out of prison and promoted to being Prime Minister of Egypt. And that promotion allowed him to be able to keep his father, plus all of his brothers and their families, from starving during the famine.

And it placed the people of God in Egypt where, as they grew in number and became a threat to the establishment, they were forced into slavery. Then some 400 years later Moses and Aaron would be sent to make Pharoah let them go then lead them to the Promised Land.

So, if you follow that thread backwards through the story … the narrative in the book of Exodus pretty much has its roots in those two women, Judith and Basemath, and their less than favorable impression on their in-laws.

Now, with that in mind, let me ask you some questions that came to me in the days since I started this blog. (And, trust me, I’ve asked myself the same things). What painful circumstances have you had in the past that you can now look back on and see how God was moving to give you a different and better outcome than what you expected … or even dreamed of? And if you’re experiencing difficulties in your life currently, does this story maybe help you see them from a new angle?

I’m pretty sure Rebekah never knew that the experience she had with her daughters-in-law, and her response, would eventually lead to the saving and relocation of an entire nation. And maybe she didn’t handle her frustration in the most positive way. The Lord knows there have been many times when I certainly didn’t handle mine well. But that one declaration from Rebekah, and the way God used it, really gives me hope that somehow, in some way, the Lord will use my mess-ups to further his plans.

And all of this reminds me once again that no matter how many times I read the Scriptures … or listen to them … or study them … there is ALWAYS something new for God to show me. That should be reason enough for me to open my Bible every day.

Just a side note: if you keep reading in Genesis, you’ll find the final mention of Esau and his wives in Chapter 36. He did marry one more time – but the wives are only referenced because of the sons they bore him. And Judith is named as Ohlibamah; Basenath has become Adah – that caused me some confusion and a bit of research to figure out. Turns out most scholars think the name change was just a cultural thing as they moved from one region to another.