John Calvin Commentary Genesis 26:34

"And when Esau was forty years old he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite." — Genesis 26:34 (ASV)

And Esau was forty years old. For many reasons, Moses relates Esau's marriages. Since he mingled with the inhabitants of the land, from whom the holy race of Abraham was separated, and formed relationships by which he became entangled, this was a kind of prelude to his rejection.

It also happened, by the wonderful counsel of God, that these daughters-in-law were distressing and troublesome to the holy patriarch (Isaac) and his wife, so that they would not gradually become favorable to those rejected people. If the behavior of the people had been pleasing, and if they had had good and obedient daughters, perhaps also, with their consent, Isaac might have taken a wife from among them.

But it was not lawful for those to be bound together in marriage whom God designed to be perpetual enemies. For how would the inheritance of the land be secured for Abraham's descendants, except by the destruction of those among whom he lived temporarily? Therefore, God cuts off all inducements to these unfavorable marriages, so that the separation he had established might remain.

From this it appears with what constant affection Esau was loved by Isaac; for although the holy man justly regarded his son’s wives with dislike, and was exasperated by them, he never failed to act with the greatest kindness towards his son, as we will see later.

We have spoken elsewhere concerning polygamy. This corruption had spread so widely among many people that the custom, though immoral, had acquired the force of law. It is not, therefore, surprising that a man devoted to fleshly desires indulged his appetite by taking two wives.

CHAPTER 27.