בראשית, פרק ל״ו, פסוק מ״א

The list of chieftains descended from Esau includes a figure named Oholibamah, which presents an interesting puzzle. Earlier in the family history, this exact name belongs to one of Esau's wives. Furthermore, the structure of the name itself follows the typical pattern of a female name. This raises a natural question about how a traditionally feminine name, already associated with a matriarch of the family, appears among a list of male tribal leaders.

There are two primary ways to understand this inclusion. One perspective maintains that the chieftain is indeed a man. It is not unusual for male figures in this family line to have names with feminine structures, or for certain names to be shared by both men and women, just as seen with other leaders like Samlah and Timna [רד״ק]. Alternatively, another approach suggests a direct connection to Esau's wife. According to this view, the male leader, or perhaps his entire tribe, was simply named in honor of the original Oholibamah [ביאור שטיינזלץ].