Ohalivah, Ohalivamah, Yehudah, and Yehudit

Something interesting I noticed today while reading Rashi on Vayishlach. While discussing the wives of Esav, Rashi noted that the wife called Ohalivamah (אהליבמה) bat Anah (Beresheet 36:2) is the same as Yehudit (יהודית) bat Be'rei (Beresheet 26:34). And that led me to wonder: In the Tanach (e.g. Yechezkel 23:4), and in later sources, especially piyyutim lamenting the destruction and exile (some examples), Judah is often called "Ohalivah", which is very similar to Ohalivamah, who is supposedly Yehudit (Judith, same root as Judah). It begs the questions: Why would Ohalivah/Judah be called after one of the wives of Esav, and is Ohalah (Israel in the same sources) also named after someone?

(image taken from here)


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