Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of his marriages, which had profound implications for his family and descendants. The account of Esau's wives is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, and their identities and backgrounds are of particular interest in understanding the cultural and familial dynamics of the time.

Adah (also known as Basemath): Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite, is mentioned as one of Esau's wives in Genesis 36:2. She is also referred to as Basemath in Genesis 26:34, which can lead to some confusion in the text. The Hittites were one of the Canaanite tribes, and Esau's marriage to Adah was a source of grief to his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:34-35 states, "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah."

Oholibamah: Another of Esau's wives, Oholibamah, is identified as the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite (Genesis 36:2, 36:25). The Hivites were another Canaanite group, and her marriage to Esau further illustrates his alliances with the local Canaanite tribes, which were contrary to the desires of his parents, who preferred marriages within their own kin.

Mahalath (also known as Basemath): Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth, is mentioned in Genesis 28:9. She is also referred to as Basemath in Genesis 36:3. Esau took Mahalath as a wife in an attempt to please his father, Isaac, after realizing that his Canaanite wives were displeasing to his parents. This marriage to a daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's other son, was an effort to align more closely with his family's lineage.

Esau's choice of wives is significant in the biblical narrative as it highlights the tension between him and his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. His marriages to Canaanite women were seen as a departure from the covenantal line that his family was meant to uphold. This is underscored by Rebekah's lament in Genesis 27:46, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

The marriages of Esau also have implications for the Edomites, his descendants, as they reflect the blending of different cultural and ethnic groups. The Edomites, who played a significant role in the history of Israel, were often in conflict with the Israelites, and the mixed heritage of Esau's descendants is seen as a contributing factor to these tensions.

In summary, Esau's wives—Adah (Basemath), Oholibamah, and Mahalath (Basemath)—represent a departure from the covenantal expectations of his family, illustrating the broader theme of familial and cultural conflict within the biblical narrative.