Basemath, Bashemath, or Basmath (Hebrew: בָּשְׂמַת, Modern Basmat Tiberian Bāśəmáṯ ; "Sweet-smelling", Arabic: بسمة; "Sweet-smile") is a character in the Book of Genesis. She was the daughter of Ishmael and the third wife of Esau. (Genesis 36:2,3)
Before Esau married his third wife, he had named one of his Canaanite wives after Basemath, probably because he knew of her[1] since they were cousins.[2] The wife whom Esau named as Basemath, was Adah the Hittite, his first wife. So after he married his third wife, Esau changed Basemath the Ishmaelite's name to Mahalath.[1] Esau sought this union with a non Canaanite, in an effort to reconcile his relationship with his parents,[3] namely with his father Isaac whom he sought his blessings. (Genesis 28:6-9) However, there is no record of his parents approval for the union of Esau and Basemath (Mahalath). She bore a son, Reuel, to Esau. (Genesis 36:4)