For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who was Bashemath’s father?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Elon the Hittite.
“also Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth.” (Gen 36:3)
Ishmael.
“Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 also Basemath,, the sister of Nebaioth.” (Genesis 36:2-3)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- One need to as if the skeptics cited the passages properly.
- Gen 36:3 was cited correctly to support the claim “Bashemath’s father was Elon the Hittite.”
- Genesis 36:2-3 was cited correctly by the skeptic to establish the claim “Bashemath’s father was Ishmael.”
- Yet I don’t believe there is a contradiction. These refer to different individuals that have the same names.
- These different fathers should suggest to us its different individuals with different fathers and not a contradiction.
- The Bashemath with Ishmael as her father seems to also have another name: Mahalath. That’s because this Bashemath is described as “the sister of Nebaioth” in Genesis 36:3. In Genesis 28:9 Esau’s wife named Mahalath was also described as “the sister of Nebaioth” (in addition to being “Ishmael’s daughter“). These two descriptions doesn’t seem probable to be coincidental but rather more likely its the same person.
- There are other instances in the Bible of different individuals with the same name so we shouldn’t be surprised that there are more than one Bashemath.
- There were also other Bashemath in other times in Old Testament history. 1 Kings 4:15 mentioned that there’s a Bashemath that’s a daughter of King Solomon.
- For another example see our post “Who was Anah?“
- There is more than one individual name Dodo in the Bible. First one is a child of Issachar according to Judges 10:1 while another Dodo was one of David’s three mighty men according to 2 Samuel 23:9 and 1 Chronicles 11:12. Still there is another Dodo who was from Bethlehem, and father of Elhanan, who was one of David’s thirty heroes per 2 Samuel 23:24.
- There is also more than one Saul; there’s the first king of Israel and Saul who appear in the New Testament as a persecutor of Christians that later converted and was renamed Paul.
- There is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Who was Bashemath’s father? […]
Thanks for straightening this out for us. I always learn a lot from these refutations.
Blessings.
Wow. I am glad this wasn’t as mentally taxing as some. The skeptic was ahead of his time when it comes to his lack of research. Very few people today use critical thinking/reasoning skills to ask themselves “is what I am reading, seeing or hearing true?” So thankful for the wisdom and discernment that God has given you to share with us. Love and blessings to you and your family!!
I love this! You said “ The skeptic was ahead of his time when it comes to his lack of research.” That is gold! Epic comment and it made me smile as the first comment on my blog I read today! Praying for Nathan, yesterday while driving I was thinking of how I’m sure some guys sure want to make one more deployment…how are you doing?
Glad my comment made you smile!!! Thank you for praying for Nathan. I’m ok, meditating on God’s sovereign control!
Another winning analysis and conclusion- the Skeptics are sloppy with their assertions. Or are they? Sometimes the appearance of ‘preponderance of evidence’ convinces people without actual basis to the charge/claim. Maybe that’s part of their strategy.
Good post brother!
I think Lisa you hit on their strategy; it seems many atheist use of the skeptic Annotated Bible lists is focus on quantity (“hey look how bad the Bible is with all these amount of errors”) versus qualitative interpretation of the Bible. How are you holding up today?
Thank you for asking Pastor. I’m encouraged and believe that the Lord is answering the prayer requests that I shared.
Today I’ll know more about the church issue.
Tomorrow I’m off to my parents to care for my mother, she’s having surgery on Monday.
Thank you brother for your care, praying for you and your ministry!
I have observed this with atheists online too: “it seems many atheist use of the skeptic Annotated Bible lists is focus on quantity (“hey look how bad the Bible is with all these amount of errors”) versus qualitative interpretation”
Thanks for another excellent rebuttal. Imagine people writing to the newspaper complaining because they used the same name twice in totally different contexts. The newspaper wouldn’t even respond to the accusation yet we Christians must defend the Bible against such silliness.
Good point about the silliness Christians put up with. And good analogy from the secular world too! Praying for your shift…how is it today for Friday shift?? Had a long pastoral visitation today and got to explain the Gospel. How are you?
Thanks, brother! Glad you got to share the Gospel! I pray the Lord uses your visit. It was another very rough Friday. I wanted to quit. But I have a meeting with the boss tomorrow to explain how our process has declined into chaos so that’s a good thing.
Instead of discrediting the Bible, The skeptic is discrediting himself.
Great work brother Jim.
He is totally discredited; seems the skeptics join the rank of government officials and the weatherman where they can be discredited but have no shame…how are you guys with the restrictions?
So well said pastor Jim!!
As from Monday we are on stage four lockdown. (It’s crazy what’s happening). I keep asking our Lord to help me and His people to do the right thing for His glory as we navigate this darkness.
But what’s happening in Afghanistan is even more devastating.
Hope you and your family are doing well.
Thank you Grand
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading this Maw Maw!!!! Hope your weekend is blessed
It is.:)
[…] For example according to Genesis 26:34 Basemath is wife of Esau, and daughter of Elon the Hittite. Yet there is also another Basemath who many centuries later is the daughter of Solomon and wife of Ahimaaz. according to 1Kings 4:15. See our post Who was Bashemath’s father? […]
God would need to put his words in my mouth to handle a skeptic. I think it is why Jesus told us not to spend time arguing over some things as it hurts those who are listening. I suppose wars have been started by skeptics. I am no scholar, just Cathy, the wife of Dan, Catherine Rose to my mother not to be confused by Caiden Rose our latest grand daughter but called Rose sometimes. Named after my middle name, which is my grandmother Rose’s name whom I never met. I can see how names in the Bible can get very confusing and one person thought of for another. Thanks for the post!
Good example you gave from your own family with the various names. That’s a good rebutting analogy against the skeptics capturing what’s going with the Bible and names. I appreciate you reading this; how are you with everything and all the news this week?
That’s a good example for those open minded!
The skeptics are either intellectually dishonest or have ability to understand and imagine possibilities
Probably both are true ☹️
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? Who was Bashemath’s father? […]
Reading the comment on here its encouraging to see so many people care about God’s truth
I don’t know how many of these posts you have written and I’ve seen you post them weekly since the pandemic but it makes the Skeptic Annotated Bible look non-credible.
Have you dealt with “Who Was Achan’s father?”
Yes! Here: https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/bible-contradiction-who-was-achans-father/
Thank you!
[…] Who was Bashemath’s father? […]
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