Mind Map Gallery Apparent Bible Contradictions
- Page：01
无数据
- 95
Apparent Bible Contradictions
Since God speaks only the truth and he does not lie, and since the Bible is God's inspired Word, the Bible is without mistakes, errors, and contradictions.
Edited at 2020-09-29 07:09:48
- Recommended to you
- Outline
Apparent Bible Contradictions13.1CHRONICLES
SEEMING OR APPARAENT INCONSISTENCIEShttp://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/by_book.html This is a map of apparent contradictions or discrepancies, in the book of 1CHRONICLES as listed in the SkepticsAnnotatedBibile.com website. Most of the so called / apparent contradictions are answered, to show that they are not contradictions at all. The main source used to answer the skeptic is: LookingUntoJesus.com website. Tags: bible contradictions, bible discrepancies,bible skeptics,
Apparent Contradictions1CHRONICLES425-445
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/by_book.html
425
Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam? 1:1-2
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20030525.htm Answering The AtheistMay 25, 2003 / Volume 3, Issue 21THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Was Enoch the sixth or seventh from Adam? (Genesis 5:3-18; 1 Chronicles 1:1-2; Luke 3:37-38; Jude 14). Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Notice, the Genesis, 1 Chronicles and Luke passages all agree that the lineage is:1) Adam2) Seth3) Enosh4) Cainan5) Mahalalel6) Jared7) Enoch. If the text in Jude 14 had declared there to be an additional person in this lineage, or if it had excluded one who is here listed, then we would have a contradiction. However, Jude wrote, "Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints...." The questioner has determined this to be a contradiction by excluding Adam as one of the seven. On what basis is this done? Certainly not because Jude’s text requires it! As listed above, from Adam to Enoch are seven generations. That would make Enoch the "seventh from Adam". There is no contradiction.
426
Was Keturah Abraham's wife or concubine? 1:32
his wife.
Genesis 25:1
Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
his concubine.
1 Chronicles 1:32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20040208.htm Answering The AtheistFebruary 8, 2004 / Volume 4, Issue 6THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Was Keturah Abraham's wife or concubine? Genesis 25:1 says "wife", but 1 Chronicles 1:32 says "concubine". Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:I'm interested to know what the questioner believes a concubine is. If I understand correctly what a concubine was, she would be a wife, but of secondary ranking. Though ranked lower than a man's primary wife (ie. Sarah), the concubine was still considered to be a wife. The word used for "wife" in Genesis 25:1 simply means woman (generally married). It has no inference to rank. Thus, even concubines were called wives (Genesis 37:2; Judges 19:3-5). Why would Keturah be referred to as a concubine, since Sarah had already passed on prior to Abraham marrying Keturah (Genesis 23:19). I cannot say. The Scriptures do not reveal such. Perhaps to Abraham, Sarah did and always would hold the distinction of being his primary mate, and no woman, not even Keturah could take her place. I'm not sure. However, the details are of no consequence. A concubine is still a wife. There is no contradiction.
427
Who was Anah? 1:38, 1:40
The daughter of Zibeon
Genesis 36:2, 14
Anah the daughter of Zibeon
The brother of Zibeon
Genesis 36:20
These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah
1 Chronicles 1:38
The sons of Seir ... Zibeon and Anah
The son of Zibeon
Genesis 36:24
And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
1 Chronicles 1:40
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20060129.htm Answering The AtheistJanuary 29, 2006 / Volume 6, Issue 5THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who was Anah?1) Genesis 36:2, 14 says the daughter of Zibeon,2) Genesis 36:20 and 1 Chronicles 1:38 say the brother of Zibeon, and3) Genesis 36:24 and 1 Chronicles 1:40 say the son of Zibeon.Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:There are three different individuals called Anah, one female and two male, from two entirely different families mentioned in Genesis 36. The first, mentioned in Genesis 36:2, 14, is Anah, the mother of Aholibamah, the wife of Esau. This woman, Anah, is the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite. The second, mentioned in Genesis 36:20 and also in 1 Chronicles 1:38, is Anah, the son of Seir the Horite. He is the brother of Zibeon (different man than mentioned above), who is also a son of Seir the Horite. The third, mentioned in Genesis 36:24-25 and also in 1 Chronicles 1:40-41, is Anah, the son of Zibeon, and nephew of the previously mentioned Anah. It is no contradiction for an individual to be given the same name as his father's brother, which is the case here. The last Anah is said to have two children, a son named Dishon (Genesis 36:25; 1 Chronicles 1:41), and a daughter named Aholibamah (Genesis 36:25). A woman by the name of Aholibamah is mentioned both in Genesis 36:2 and 36:25. Note that though these women share the same name, they are not the same person. The first is Aholibamah, daughter of Anah (female), daughter of Zibeon the Hivite. She was married to Esau. The latter is Aholibamah, daughter of Anah (male), son of Zibeon, son of Seir the Horite. Though the names in the two families are similar, one is among the family of the Hivites, the other among the family or the Horites. There is no contradiction.
Christian Response
428
Who was Heman's father? 2:6, 6:33, 15:17
Mahol
1 Kings 4:31
For he [Solomon] was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol...
Zerah
1 Chronicles 2:6
And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
Joel
1 Chronicles 6:33
Heman a singer, the son of Joel...
1 Chronicles 15:17
Heman the son of Joe
Christian Response
429
How many sons did Jesse have? 2:13-15
8 sons
1 Samuel 16:10-11
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are these all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest [David].
1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons.
7 sons
1 Chronicles 2:13-15
And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and ... David the seventh.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20071230.htm Answering The AtheistDecember 30, 2007 / Volume 7, Issue 52THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How many sons did Jesse have, eight (1 Samuel 16:10-11) or seven (1 Chronicles 2:13-15)? Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:The questioner is right, the number reported in 1 Samuel 16:10-11 and 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 do not match. But rather than immediately conclude that it is a contradiction, let us consider the texts. 1 Samuel 16:10-11 reads, "Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, 'The LORD has not chosen these. And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all the young men here?' Then he said, 'There remains yet the youngest and there he is keeping the sheep.' And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.'" 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 reads, "Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh." Indeed, in 1 Samuel 16, seven sons had already been seen by Samuel, and David, the youngest, would be the eighth. And yet, in 1 Chronicles 2, David is listed as the seventh. How can this be? It is likely that one of Jesse's sons had died prematurely. He would have been alive at the time Samuel came to anoint a son of Jesse as king, but deceased thereafter. The absence of this one from the list may indicate that he had no offspring to perpetuate his name. My wife, when asked about her family will often say that she has one sister. She in fact had 2 sisters, but one is deceased. Depending on the nature of the conversation, she may or may not mention the deceased sibling. The same would be true, even of this record in the Bible. There is no contradiction.
430
Who was Amasa's father? 2:17
Ithra an Israelite.
2 Samuel 17:25
Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ishra and Israelite.
Jether an Ishmaelite.
1 Chronicles 2:17
And the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20050522.htm Answering The AtheistMay 22, 2005 / Volume 5, Issue 21THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who was Amasa's father? 2 Samuel 17:25 identifies him as "Ithra the Israelite", while 1 Chronicles 2:17 says it was "Jether the Ishmaelite". Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Both references speak of the same man, though a surface reading of the texts may lead one to believe that the record of 2 Samuel 17:25 and 1 Chronicles 2:17 are contradictory. The only difference between the names in the Hebrew language is that Ithra consists of one additional letter. This may be a copyist error, or perhaps he was known by both names. It was not uncommon for a person's name to be shortened, and for the individual to be known by either or both names. For instance, we read of Aquila and his wife Priscilla in Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Romans 16:3 and 1 Corinthians 16:9. In 2 Timothy 4:19, Paul refers to this woman as Prisca, obviously a shortened form of her name. Perhaps Jether is to Ithra what Prisca is to Priscilla. What shall we make of the fact that "Ithra" is referred to as an Israelite, while "Jether" is referred to as an "Ishmaelite"? Recall that Ishmael was the son born to Abraham by the slave woman, Hagar. It is possible that Amasa's father dwelt in the land of the Ishmaelites, and he was so designated for that reason, or perhaps he was an Ishmaelite by birth. If it is the former, then the reference to his being an Israelite is a statement of his nationality, if it is the latter, then it is the opposite, namely that he was a man of Ishmael who dwelt in the land of Israel. Either way, there are options whereby the texts need not be contradictory. There is no contradiction.
431
The sons of David born in Hebron 3:1-4
2 Samuel 3:2-5
Annon
Chileab
Absalom
Adonijah
Shephatiah
Ithream
1 Chronicles 3
Annon
Daniel
Absalom
Adonijah
Shephatiah
Ithream
Christian Response
432
Was Solomon David's second or fourth son by Bathsheba? 3:5
Second
2 Samuel 12:15, 24
And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. ... And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon.
Fourth
1 Chronicles 3:5
And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:
Christian Response
433
The sons of David born in Jerusalem 3:5-8, 14:3-7
2 Samuel 5:14-16
Shammuah
Shobab
Nathan
Solomon
Ibhar
Elishua
Nepheg
Japhia
Elishama
Eliada
Eliphalet
1 Chronicles 3:5-8
Shimea
Shobab
Nathan
Solomon
Ibhar
Nogah
Nepheg
Japhia
Elishama (listed twice!)
Eliada
Eliphelet (listed twice!)
1 Chronicles 14:3-7
Shammua
Shobab
Nathan
Solomon
Ibhar
Elishua
Elpalet
Nogah
Nepheg
Japhia
Elishama
Beeliada
Eliphalet
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20060423.htmAnswering The AtheistApril 23, 2006 / Volume 6, Issue 17THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Which sons of David were born in Jerusalem, and which were born in Hebron? Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:We will begin with the sons born in Jerusalem. I am sure that the questioner believes that there is a contradiction since two of the children are not mentioned in 2 Samuel who are mentioned in the other texts. Also, perhaps the questioner believes the 1 Chronicles 3 text to be contradictory, since Elishama and Eliphelet are listed twice. Let us consider these questions. 2 SAM 5:14-16 1 CHR 3:5-8 1 CHR 14:3-7ShammuahShobabNathanSolomonIbharElishua------Nepheg JaphiaElishamaEliadaEliphalet ShimeaShobabNathanSolomonIbharElishamaElipheletNogahNepheg JaphiaElishamaEliadaEliphelet ShammuaShobabNathanSolomonIbharElishuaElpaletNogahNepheg JaphiaElishamaBeeliadaEliphaletFirst, regarding the two appearances of "Elishama" and "Eliphelet", it is not impossible for children born to different wives by the same husband to have the same name. That was the case among David's children born to him at Jerusalem. The first "Elishama" of 1 Chronicles 3 is the "Elishua" of the other two texts. The first "Eliphelet" of 1 Chronicles 3 is the "Elpalet" of 1 Chronicles 14. Of the two children not listed in 2 Samuel 5 (Eliphelet/Elpalet and Nogah), it is possible that these died in their childhood, and thus the author of 2 Samuel, unlike the author of 1 Chronicles, did not list them. Now, let us turn our attention to the children born to David in Hebron. The only difference between the two accounts is that in one, Chileab is listed, and in the other Daniel is listed. It is not uncommon for someone to be known by two different names. In the New Testament, Peter is also know as Simon and Cephas. It seems that such is the case here also. 2 SAM 3:2-5 1 CHR 3:1-4AnnonChileabAbsalomAdonijahShephatiahIthream AnnonDanielAbsalomAdonijahShephatiahIthreamThere is no contradiction.
434
What were the generations from David to the Babylonian Captivity 3:11-16
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20060416.htmAnswering The AtheistApril 16, 2006 / Volume 6, Issue 16THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:The generations from David to the Babylonian captivity listed in 1 Chronicles 3:10-16 are different than Matthew 1:6-11. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:The questioner is correct, the list given in Matthew 1 does not parallel that which can be found in 1 Chronicles 3. However, rather than automatically assume that a contradiction is present, would it not be better to first inquire if there is a plausible explanation for the difference? Sadly, the questioner's determination to find an error in the Bible fails to permit an honest investigation of the facts. 1 CHR 3:10-16 MT 1:6-11SolomonRehoboamAbiaAsaJehoshaphatJoramAhaziahJoashAmaziah AzariahJothamAhazHezekiahManassehAmonJosiahJehoiakimJoconiah SolomonRehoboamAbijahAsaJehoshaphatJehoram--------- UzziahJothamAhazHezekiahManassehAmonJosiah---JoconiahRegarding the omission of Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah, there are at least a couple possible explanations. 1) Some have suggested that these names were excluded intentionally, for the sake of symmetry in the threefold division of generations from Abraham to Joseph (ie. 14 generations / 14 generations / 14 generations). 2) It is not uncommon in the passage of time, for errors in genealogical data to appear, both due to transcription error and incorrect oral instruction. Adam Clarke's Commentary reads, St. Matthew took up the genealogies just as he found them in the public Jewish records, which, though they were in the main correct, yet were deficient in many particulars. The Jews themselves give us sufficient proof of this.Though the writer (by inspiration of the Spirit) would be aware of the true ancestory, he did not see it necessary or even appropriate to take issue with the accredited genealogical table. The omissions are of no consequence to his argument, that Jesus was a direct descendant of David. Raising an objection to the commonly accepted ancestory would overshadow his argument. Regarding the omission of Jehoiakim, some have speculated that his father (Josiah's son) Jehoiakim was excluded because he was raised to the throne as nothing more than a puppet of the king of Egypt, and thereafter, became the puppet of the king of Babylon. His "reign" as king of Judah was pitiable. An alternative explanation can be found in Clarke's Commentary:"...these difficulties disappear, by adopting a reading found in many MSS. . And Josiah begat JEHOIAKIM, or Joakim, and JOAKIM begat Jechonias. For this reading, see the authorities in Griesbach. Are the lists of 1 Chronicles 3 and Matthew 1 different? Yes. Does this difference constitute a contradiction? On the surface, yes, but upon investigation, there are viable explanations. There is no contradiction.
435
Was Jechoniah the son or the grandson of Josiah? 3:15-16
He was Josiah's son.
Matthew 1:11
And Josias begat Jechonias.
He was Josiah's grandson.
1 Chronicles 3:15-16
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20040912.htm Answering The AtheistSeptember 12, 2004 / Volume 4, Issue 37THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who was Zerubbabel’s faither? 1 Chronicles 3:19 says it was Pedaiah, but Ezra 3:2 and Nehemiah 12:1 say it was Shealtiel. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:If the meaning of the Hebrew word ben were so specific as to mean one’s immediate and biological son, then certainly there would be a contradiction here. Of course, the most common rendering is son, but of the 4906 occurrences of the word, we find son (2978), children (1568), old (51), young (35), man (20), child (10), stranger (10), people (5), miscellaneous (92). Shealtiel and Pedaiah were brothers (1 Chronicles 3:18-19). Since in the genealogical listing, Zerubbabel is said to be Pedaiah’s son, he would thus be Shealtiel’s nephew. The question then, why do Ezra and Nehemiah speak of Zerubbabel as Shealtiel’s son? It has been suggested by some that though Zerubbabel was begotten of Pedaiah, that he was raised in the house of Shealtiel. There is no way to prove or disprove such a claim, but it is noteworthy that only in 1 Chronicles 3 is Pedaiah, the father of Zerubbabel referenced. Everywhere else, Shealtiel is identified as his father. Though circumstantial, it certainly gives credibility to the thought. Also, given the generic scope of the Hebrew word ben, it would not be out of the question for a man’s son, grandson, nephew, or other kin to be referred to as such. There is no contradiction.
436
Did Jeconiah have any sons? 3:17-18
Jeconiah had no sons
Jeremiah 22:28-30
Thus saith the Lord, write this man [Jeconiah] childless .... No man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
Jeconiah had several sons
; one was an ancestor of Jesus.
1 Chronicles 3.17-18:
And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salatheil his son, Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
Matthew 1:12
Jeconiah begat Shealtiel.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20071014.htmAnswering The AtheistOctober 14, 2007 / Volume 7, Issue 41THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Did Jeconiah have any sons? Jeremiah 22:28-30 says that he did not, but both 1 Chronicles 3:17-18 and Matthew 1:12 says he did, and one was an ancestor of Jesus. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Both 1 Chronicles 3 and Matthew 1 indicate that Jeconiah had sons, and that he was an ancestor of Jesus. So, our focus must be on the words of Jeremiah regarding Coniah. Both Jeremiah 22:28 and 22:30 reveal that Jeconiah had children. The question is asked, "Why are they cast out, he and his descendants...?" And again, we are told, "...none of his descendants shall prosper..." Can a man have descendants if he has no children? NO! Now then, to the words which the questioner has latched to, "Write this man down as childless..." Why? Because he had no children? No, for the very verse in which this statement appears indicates that he had children. These words are intended to convey the disgrace which was brought upon Jeconiah; it was as though he had no children. The natural course was for a king's son to assume the throne after his father, but such would not occur. Instead, Judah's next king would be Zedekiah, not by succession, but by appointment of Nebuchadnezzar. There is no contradiction.
437
Who was Zerubbabel's father? 3:19
His father was Pedaiah.
1 Chronicles 3:19
And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei.
His father was Shealtiel.
Ezra 3:2, Nehemiah 12:1
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel.
Haggai 1:1
... came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel.
Matthew 1:12
Salathiel begat Zorobabel
Luke 3:27
Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20040912.htm Answering The AtheistSeptember 12, 2004 / Volume 4, Issue 37THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who was Zerubbabel’s faither? 1 Chronicles 3:19 says it was Pedaiah, but Ezra 3:2 and Nehemiah 12:1 say it was Shealtiel. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:If the meaning of the Hebrew word ben were so specific as to mean one’s immediate and biological son, then certainly there would be a contradiction here. Of course, the most common rendering is son, but of the 4906 occurrences of the word, we find son (2978), children (1568), old (51), young (35), man (20), child (10), stranger (10), people (5), miscellaneous (92). Shealtiel and Pedaiah were brothers (1 Chronicles 3:18-19). Since in the genealogical listing, Zerubbabel is said to be Pedaiah’s son, he would thus be Shealtiel’s nephew. The question then, why do Ezra and Nehemiah speak of Zerubbabel as Shealtiel’s son? It has been suggested by some that though Zerubbabel was begotten of Pedaiah, that he was raised in the house of Shealtiel. There is no way to prove or disprove such a claim, but it is noteworthy that only in 1 Chronicles 3 is Pedaiah, the father of Zerubbabel referenced. Everywhere else, Shealtiel is identified as his father. Though circumstantial, it certainly gives credibility to the thought. Also, given the generic scope of the Hebrew word ben, it would not be out of the question for a man’s son, grandson, nephew, or other kin to be referred to as such. There is no contradiction.
438
Was Mahli the son of Levi? 6:1, 6:16, 23:6
YES
Ezra 8:18
Mahli, the son of Levi....
NO
Genesis 46:11, 1 Chronicles 6:1, 16:16
And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
1 Chronicles 23:6
the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Christian Response
439
Who was Samuel's firstborn son? 6:28
Joel
1 Samuel 8:2
Now the name of his [Samuel's] firstborn son was Joel.
Vashni
1 Chronicles 6:28
And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni.
Christian Response
440
What tribe was Aijalon from? 6:66, 69
Dan
Joshua 21:23-24
And out of the trib of Dan ... Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs.
Ephraim
1 Chronicles 6:66, 69
The tribe of Ephraim ... Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20050501.htm Answering The AtheistMay 1, 2005 / Volume 5, Issue 18THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:What tribe was Aijalon from? Joshua 21:23-24 says Dan, while 1 Chronicles 6:66, 69 says Ephraim. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Indeed, in 1 Chronicles 6, the writer fails to distinguish between the cities which were given to the sons of Kohath from the tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Dan. That doesn't mean that the writer intended to infer that the city of Aijalon belonged to Ephraim. It may simply indicate that the writer expected that his audience had enough knowledge of the region that it would not be necessary to include the description "from the tribe of Dan", as Joshua had formerly done. There is no contradiction.
441
Who were the sons of Benjamin? 7:6, 8:1-2
Genesis 46:21
Belah
Becher
Ashbel
Gera
Naaman
Ehi
Rosh
Muppim
Huppim
Ard
Numbers 26:38-40
Bela
Ashbel
Shupham
Hupham
1 Chronicles 7:6
Bela
Becher
Jediael
1 Chronicles 8:1-2
Bela
Ashbel
Aharah
Nohah
Rapha
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20050626.htm Answering The AtheistJune 26, 2005 / Volume 5, Issue 26THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who were the sons of Benjamin? Genesis 46:21, Numbers 26:38-40, 1 Chronicles 7:6 and 1 Chronicles 8:1-2 do not agree. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:In Genesis 46, Benjamin is said to have 10 sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Eri, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. From the text in Numbers, we are told of only 5 sons of Benjamin: Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham and Hupham. In this text, Ard and Naaman are identified as sons of Bela, and thus grandsons of Benjamin. In 1 Chronicles 7, only three sons of Benjamin are mentioned: Bela, Becher and Jediael. Shuppim and Huppim are listed as great grandchildren of Benjamin, through Bela's son Ira. Finally, in 1 Chronicles 8, there are 5 sons of Benjamin listed: Bela, Ahsbel, Aharah, Nohah and Rapha, with several others mentioned as grandchildren. First, it should be understood that the Hebrew word "ben" (translated son) is not exclusive to immediate relations. The word is used of not only an individual's sons, but also his grandsons. This being the case, it is certainly acceptable for grandsons to be listed as "sons of Benjamin". Why the varying numbers in the different accounts? It is possible that some writers intended only to list the prominent members of Benjamin's family, while others sought to be more extensive. It would seem to be fruitless to attempt to sift through Benjamin's lineage, or any other of which there may be some dispute, for those who oppose the Bible on such a basis as this, even if we could lay out the details of the genealogy accurately, would still no doubt be unbelieving. There is no contradiction.
442
Does God forgive sins? 7:14
Yes
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Jeremiah 31:34
I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
No
Joshua 24:19
God ... will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
Christian Response
443
Who was the father of Kish? 8:33, 9:39
Abiel
1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel.
Ner
1 Chronicles 8:33, 9.39
And Ner begat Kish.
Christian Response
444
Who were Saul's sons? 8:33, 9:39
Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua
1 Samuel 14:49
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua.
Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal
1 Chronicles 8:33
Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
1 Chronicles 9:39
Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Christian Response
445
How did Saul die? 10:4, 10:14
Saul committed suicide.
1 Samuel 31:4-6
Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. So Saul died.
1 Chronicles 10:4
Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Saul was killed by an Amalekite.
2 Samuel 1:8-10
And he [Saul] said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me. So I stood upon him, and slew him.
Saul was killed by the Philistines.
2 Samuel 21:12
The Philistines had slain Saul.
God killed him.
1 Chronicles 10:14
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Christian Response
Apparent Contradictions1CHRONICLES446-467
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/by_book.html
446
Did Saul's family die with him? 10:6
Yes, all of Saul's family died with him.
1 Chronicles 10:6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.
No, one of Saul's sons (Ishbosheth) became king of Israel after Saul died.
2 Samuel 2:1-7
Your master Saul is dead .... But Abner ... took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim and made him king.
No, David sacrificed two of Saul's sons and five of his grandsons to God to stop him from starving people to death.
2 Samuel 21:1-14
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. ...Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement? ... And they answered the king ... Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD ... And the king said, I will give them. ... The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul ... And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death. ... And after that God was intreated for the land.
Christian Response
447
Did Saul inquire of the Lord? 10:13-14
Saul inquired of the Lord.
1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not.
Saul did not inquire of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul ... inquired not of the Lord: wherefore he slew him.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20020526.htm Answering The AtheistMay 26, 2002 / Volume 2, Issue 21THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:We are told that Saul inquired of God, but God did not answer him (1 Samuel 28:6), but contrary then we read that Saul died because he did not seek guidance from God (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Did he or did he not seek guidance from God? RESPONSE:It seems strange that the LORD would not answer Saul when he inquired of Him, but the reason is evident from the context of 1 Samuel 28. In the preceding chapters, he has busyed himself seeking the life of David. Now, with the Philistines gathered to war against him, he is compelled to turn to God, or is he? Were he truly repentant, God would have heard him and been a help to him, however, look at Saul's actions in verse 7, "....Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.'..." His actions speak volumes. He approached the Lord in form (physically doing so), but not in spirit. And so, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, in reference to this very event states, "So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." There is no contradiction.
448
How many men did the chief of David's captains kill? 11:11
800
2 Samuel 23:8
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. (KJV) These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. (NIV) These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshe'beth a Tah-che'monite; he was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time. (RSV)
300
1 Chronicles 11:11
And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. (KJV) this is the list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. (NIV) This is an account of David's mighty men: Jasho'be-am, a Hach'monite, was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he slew at one time. (RSV)
Christian Response
449
Where did God kill Uzza? 13:9
at the threshingfloor of Nachon.
2 Samuel 6:6
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him.
at the threshingfloor of Childon.
1 Chronicles 13:9
And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Childon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20020609.htm Answering The AtheistJune 9, 2002 / Volume 2, Issue 23THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Where did Uzzah die, at the threshing-floor of Nachon (2 Samuel 6:6) or at the threshing-floor of Chidon (1 Chronicles 13:9)? RESPONSE:Let us look at the two passages in question: 2 Samuel 6:6"And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled." 1 Chronicles 13:9"And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled." It is not out of the ordinary for a person to have more than one name, and thus also be referred to by various names. For example Moses' father-in-law's name was Jethro (Exodus 3:1), but he was also known as Reuel (Numbers 10:29). Likewise, one of Jesus disciples was named Simon, but also named Peter (Mark 3:16). This one was also known as Cephas (John 1:42). Another spoken of in the New Testament had the name Joses, but was also called Barnabas (Acts 4:36). My name is William, but some folks call me Stewart (my last name), others call me James (my middle name). All are equally correct. In the case of Nachon, it appears he was also known by the name Chidon. There is no contradiction.
450
Who is the Lord of this world? 16:14, 31
God
Joshua 2:11
For the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Joshua 3:13
The LORD of all the earth
2 Kings 19:15
Thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.
1 Chronicles 16:14
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
Ezra 5:11
We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.
Job 34:13
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
Psalm 47:2
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
Psalm 47:7
For God is the King of all the earth.
Psalm 59:13
God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth.
Psalm 83:18
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 96:10
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth
Psalm 97:1
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice.
Psalm 97:5
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble.
Isaiah 37:16
Thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth.
Isaiah 54:5
The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Micah 4:13
I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Zechariah 4:14
These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
Zechariah 6:5
These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
Matthew 11:25
Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth...
Luke 10:21
Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth...
Acts 17:24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth.
Satan
Matthew 4:8-9
The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee.
Luke 4:5-7
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee.
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 14:30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh.
John 16:11
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.
Christian Response
451
Are the laws of the Old Testament still binding? 16:15-17
Yes, they are binding forever.
Genesis 17:19
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Exodus 12:14, 17, 24
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. ... And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. ... And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Leviticus 23:14,21,31
It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.
Deuteronomy 4:8-9
What nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? ... teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
Deuteronomy 11:1
Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God.
1 Chronicles 16:15
Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations ... an everlasting covenant.
Psalm 119:151-2
Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Psalm 119:160
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Malachi 4:4
Remember ye the law of Moses.
Matthew 5:18-19
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 16:17
It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
No, Christians are not under the OT law.
Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John [the Baptist]: since that time the kingdom of heaven is preached.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 6:14
Ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 7:4, 6
Ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ .... We are delivered from the law, that being dead.
Romans 10:4
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Galatians 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.
Galatians 3:24-25
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 5:18
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances.
Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances ... nailing it to his cross.
Christian Response
452
How many gods are there? 16:25
one God
Deuteronomy 4:35
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deuteronomy 4:39
The LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me.
1 Kings 18:39
The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
Isaiah 43:10
I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 44:8
I am the LORD, and there is none else ... There is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:5-6
I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.There is no God else beside me ... There is none beside me.
Isaiah 45:21
There is no God else beside me ... There is none beside me.
Isaiah 46:9
I am God, and there is none else: I am God, and there is none like me.
Mark 12:29
The Lord our God is one Lord.
Mark 12:32
There is one God; and there is none other but he.
John 17:3
That they might know thee the only true God.
1 Corinthians 8:6
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him.
several gods
Genesis 1:26
And God said, let us make man in our image.
Genesis 3:22
And the Lord God said, Behold, then man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.
Genesis 11:7
Let us go down, and there confound their language.
Exodus 12:12
And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.
Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?
Exodus 18:11
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.
Exodus 20:3, 5
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.
Exodus 22:20
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods.
Exodus 23:13
Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Exodus 23:24
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Exodus 23:32
Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Exodus 34:14
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Numbers 33:4
Upon their gods also theLORD executed judgments.
Deuteronomy 3:24
What God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works?
Deuteronomy 5:7
Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 6:14-15
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you)
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords.
Deuteronomy 28:14
Thou shalt not ... go after other gods to serve them.
Joshua 24:2
They served other gods.
Joshua 24:14
Fear the Lord ... and put away the gods which your fathers served.
Judges 11:24
Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess?
1 Samuel 6:5
Ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods.
1 Samuel 28:13
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
1 Chronicles 16:25
The Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 82:1
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods.
Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods.
Psalm 86:8
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord.
Psalm 96:4
For the Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 97:7
Worship him, all ye gods.
Psalm 135:5
Our Lord is above all gods.
Psalm 136:2
O give thanks unto the God of gods.
Jeremiah 1:16
I will utter my judgments against them ... who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods.
Jeremiah 10:11
The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Jeremiah 25:6
And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Jeremiah 46:25
I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods.
Zephaniah 2:11
The Lord will be terrible to them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth.
John 10:33-34
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20030302.htm Answering The AtheistMarch 2, 2003 / Volume 3, Issue 9THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How many Gods are there? Some passages state there is only one (Deuteronomy 4:35; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 45:5-6; Mark12:29), but others indicate there are several (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Exodus 12:12). Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:There is one true God, which the first set of passages listed above, along with many other reveal. We will return to who this one true God is in just a moment, but for the present, let us consider Exodus 12:12, and other texts such as it. The Lord says, "...against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment." These ‘gods' are manmade gods, conceived in the mind of man and who exist and reign only in the mind of those who are deceived. The Egyptians had a variety of gods, as did the Greeks and the Romans. Often their gods were based upon nature, and blessings would come from appeasing their gods in various forms. Of those who served such ‘gods', Paul wrote, "...who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." (Romans 1:25). As regards the one true God, texts such as Genesis 1:26 infer that there is a plurality. Indeed, there are three persons who are one God. To aid in understanding this concept, please refer to the diagrams available. It is important to understand, God is a form of being, not necessarily the description of a specific person (though it is also used in this fashion). There is no contradiction.
453
Should we fear God? 16:25
Yes
Leviticus 25:17
Thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 4:10
That they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children
Deuteronomy 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments.
Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 6:24
And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 14:23
...that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
Deuteronomy 28:58
...that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD.
Deuteronomy 31:12
Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 31:13
And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God.
Joshua 4:24
That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
Joshua 24:14
Fear the Lord ... and put away the gods which your fathers served.
1 Samuel 12:14
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
1 Samuel 12:24
Fear the Lord.
2 Kings 17:39
But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
1 Chronicles 16:25
The Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.
Nehemiah 5:9
Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
Job 28:28
The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever.
Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him.
Psalm 33:8
Let all the earth fear the LORD.
Psalm 33:18
The eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him.
Psalm 34:9
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Psalm 96:4
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 103:11
Great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psalm 103:13
The LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psalm 103:17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Psalm 112:1
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD.
Psalm 115:13
He will bless them that fear the LORD.
Psalm 128:1
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD.
Psalm 147:11
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 3:7
Fear the Lord.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days.
Proverbs 14:2
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD.
Proverbs154:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom.
Proverbs 22:4
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 23:17
Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear thou the LORD.
Ecclesiates 3:14
God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
Ecclesiates 5:7
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Isaiah 8:13
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Hosea 3:5
Fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
Malachi 2:4-5
...that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
Jeremaih 5:22
Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence?
Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5
Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 1:50
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Romans 3:10-18
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ... There is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all thingsyour masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
1 Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Revelation 14:7
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.
Revelation 15:4
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord?
No
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:8
God is Love.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20070121.htm Answering The AtheistJanuary 21, 2007 / Volume 7, Issue 3THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Should we fear God? There are several texts which say yes (Leviticus 25:17; Deuteronomy 4:10; 6:2, 13, 24; 10:12, 20; 31:12-13; Joshua 4:24; 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:14, 24; 2 Kings 17:39; 1 Chronicles 16:25; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9; 25:14; 33:8, 18; 34:9; 96:4; 103:11, 13, 17; 111:10; 112:1; 115:13; 128:1; 147:11; Proverbs 1:7; 22:4; 24:21; Ecclesiastes 5:7; 12:13; Isaiah 8:13; Jeremiah 5:22; Matthew 10:28; Luke 1:50; 12:5; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:21; Colossians 3:22; Hebrews 10:31; 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 14:7; 15:4), but there are others which say no (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:8, 18). Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Should we fear God? Absolutely. The questioner gave us an extensive (yet certainly not exhaustive) list of verses which say we should fear God. The Hebrew word from which fear is rendered in the Old Testament is yare', which Strong's identifies as "...to fear... to revere... to be afraid... reverence..." The Greek word from which fear is render in the New Testament is phobeo, which Strong's identifies as, "...to frighten... to be alarmed... to be in awe of... revere... afraid... reverence..." Should we approach God with reverence? Indeed. Is there reason to be in awe of the God of heaven? For sure! Ought some be frightened, even to terror, of the Lord? Yes, if they are not doing His will. But what shall we make of the texts which are listed as indicating that we should not fear God? Let us consider these. 2 Timothy 1:7 reads, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." The text does not say that God has revealed that we should not fear Him. We have no need to fear the world; no need to "...be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord...", but rather are able to share "...in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God..." that others (ie. like Paul) endured. The text does not tell us not to fear (revere, stand in awe of, extend great respect toward) God. 1 John 4:8 reads, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Yes? God is identified as love, but it appears that the questioner is doing the same here as many in the religious world do. They emphasize the love of God, to the exclusion of the justice of God. We must take into account all that the Scripture says about the character of God. Hebrews 12 likens God to our earthly fathers. In most cases, earthly fathers love their children, but, equally, they command fear of their children. Not terror or horror, but respect, awe, an appreciation for authority, etc.. Should it be thought odd that God, who loves us, also expects that we should fear before Him? 1 John 4:18 reads, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." If we have love abiding in us, in what respect has fear been cast out from us? The contexts answers the question: "...we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (v 17). Those who love the Lord and walk in accordance with His commandments need not fear the coming judgment, for as God is holy and pure, they walk in holiness and purity. The text does not say, as the questioner suppose, to not fear God. There is no contradiction.
454
Is God merciful? 16:34
YES
God is kind, merciful, and good.
Exodus 34:6
The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Deuteronomy 4:31
For the Lord thy God is a merciful God.
2 Samuel 24:14
Let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great.
1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
Psalm 25:8
Good and upright is the Lord.
Psalm 86:5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting.
Psalm 103:8
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Jeremiah 3:12
I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Jeremiah 33:11
The LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Lamentations 3:33
;For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Joel 2:13
For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Judith 13:21
Give all of you glory to him, because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be God ... the Father of mercies.
James 5:11
For the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.
1 John 4:16
God is love.
NO
God is cruel, unmerciful, and evil.
Exodus 34:6-7
The Lord God ... visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Numbers 25:4
And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:16
And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pit upon them.
1 Samuel 6:19
Because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand, and three score and ten men.
1 Samuel 15:2-3
Now go an smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.
Lamentation 2:2
The LORD hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied.
Lamentations 2:17
The LORD hath done that which he had devised.... He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied.
Lamentations 3:43
Thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
Jeremiah 13:14
I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy.
Jeremaih 16:3-7
For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land; They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies. Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them: Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.
Ezekiel 7:4, 9
And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity.
Ezekiel 9:5-6
Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women.
Micah 1:12
But evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20011104.htm Answering The Atheist--------------------------------------------------------------------------------November 4, 2001 / Volume 1, Issue 35 THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Some Bible passages tell us that God is cruel, unmerciful, destructive and ferocious (Jeremiah 13:14; 1 Samuel 15:3). However, other passages say that God is kind, merciful and good (James 5:11; 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 145:9; 1 John 4:16). Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:The questioner has proven that he is capable of removing a text from its context, and attempting to set it against other texts removed from their context. He has by no means proven that God is inconsistent in His character, nor that the Bible contradicts itself. Both Jeremiah 13 and 1 Samuel 15 deal with situations where a group of people were due judgment upon them for disobedience or evil conduct. The other texts mentioned (James 5:11; 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalm 145:9; 1 John 4;16) express the Lord's goodness upon those who are obedient to His will. The apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off." (Romans 11:22) God's goodness is upon some, His severity upon others. Our conduct before Him is what determines which is upon us. There is no contradiction.
455
How many horsemen did David take? 18:4
700
2 Samuel 8:4
And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen.
7000
1 Chronicles 18:4
And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20020616.htm Answering The AtheistJune 16, 2002 / Volume 2, Issue 24THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How many horsemen did David take, 7,000 (1 Chronicles 18:4) or 1,700 (2 Samuel 8:4)? RESPONSE:Let us look at the two passages in question: 2 Samuel 8:4 (YLT)and David captureth from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David destroyeth utterly the whole of the charioteers, only he leaveth of them a hundred charioteers. 1 Chronicles 18:4 (YLT)and David captureth from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and David destroyeth utterly all the chariots, and leaveth of them a hundred chariots only. As has been stated previously, I fully acknowledge the possibility of copying errors by scribes. It would seem that such would be a fit explanation for the discrepancy between these two texts. It is interesting to note that in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew text), 1 Chronicles 18:4 and 2 Samuel 8:4 agree. Translated to English, from the Septuagint, we find, "...a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen..." How many horsemen? Was it 700, or 1,700, or 7,000? I cannot say. However, the discrepancy is minor and easily attributed to the copying process, not the inspired text. When a 'contradiction' deals with numbers, and is clearly the error of a scribe, the overall integrity of the inspired text surely remains intact. The very nature of the discrepancy renders it useless as a means to discount the Bible.
456
Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech? 18:16, 24:6
Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech.
1 Samuel 22:20
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar.
1 Samuel 23:6
Abiathar the son of Ahimelech.
Abiathar was the father of Ahimelech.
2 Samuel 8:17, 1 Chronicles 18:16, 24:6
Ahimelech the son of Abiathar.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20040222.htm Answering The AtheistFebruary 22, 2004 / Volume 4, Issue 8THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Was Abiathar the father (2 Sam 8:17; 1 Chr 18:16; 24:6) or son (1 Sam 22:20; 23:6) of Ahimelech? Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:I don't suppose the questioner considered that there could be two men with the name Ahimelech, one the father of Abiathar, the other the son of Abiathar? Ahimelech, the father of Abiathar, was murdered by Doeg, according to the command of Saul (1 Sam 22:9-23). His son, Abiathar seems to be the only one to have escaped the massacre. This Ahimelech, being dead, cannot be the same Ahimelech who is spoken of in 2 Samuel 8, 1 Chronicles 18, and other places. It would appear that Abiathar had a son, whom he named Ahimelech, perhaps as a tribute to his father, who died at the hands of ungodly men. There is no contradiction.
457
How many men did David kill? 19:18
700 men in chariots and 40,000 horsemen
2 Samuel 10:18
And David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen.
7000 men in chariots and 40,000 footmen
1 Chronicles 19:18
David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20050904.htm Answering The AtheistSeptember 4, 2005 / Volume 5, Issue 36THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How many men did David kill? 2 Samuel 10:18 says 700 charioteers and 40,000 horsemen, but 1 Chronicles 19:18 says 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:First, let us deal with the description of the latter portion of men. 2 Samuel speaks of these as "horsemen", while 1 Chronicles calls them "foot soldiers" (NKJV). Are they on horses, or are they on foot? The Hebrew word from which translators have rendered "foot soldiers" is 'iysh. This word simply means men. The inference that they were foot soldiers rather than horsemen can be attributed to translator's interpolation of the word. So then, how many charioteers? 700 or 7,000? It is certainly possible that we are faced here with an error in the work of a scribe, as has been admitted on other occasions. However, consider a few alternatives: 1) Adam Clarke suggests, "It is very probable that, in former times, the Jews expressed, as they often do now, their numbers, not by words at full length, but by numeral letters; and, as many of the letters bear a great similarity to each other, mistakes might easily creep in when the numeral letters came to be expressed by words at full length. This alone will account for the many mistakes which we find in the numbers in these books, and renders a mistake here very probable. The letter zain with a dot above, stands for seven thousand, nun for seven hundred: the great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce an error in this place." 2) The Geneva Bible Notes suggests of the 700, "Who were the chief and most principal: for in all he destroyed 7,000, as in 1 Ch 19:18, or the soldiers who were in 700 chariots." What is the correct answer? I do not know. Regardless, there are certainly ways to explain the supposed contradiction. The overall integrity of the inspired text surely remains intact. The very nature of the discrepancy renders it useless as a means to discount the Bible.
458
Who did Elhanan kill? 20:5
Goliath
2 Samuel 21:19
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.[The words "the brother of" were inserted by the KJV translators to avoid the obvious contradiction with 1 Samuel 17:49-51.]
Lahmi, the brother of Goliath
1 Chronicles 20:5
And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.
Christian Response
459
Who tempted David to number Israel? 21:1
God
2 Samuel 24:1
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah.
Satan
1 Chronicles 21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20020623.htm Answering The AtheistJune 23, 2002 / Volume 2, Issue 25THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Who moved David to number the people, God (2 Samuel 24:1) or Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1)? RESPONSE:Let us look at the two passages in question: 1 Chronicles 21:1Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 2 Samuel 24:1Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." We are told that God does not tempt man to commit sin (James 1:13), however, Scripture often describes God as doing what He has permitted to be done. Such is the case here, as God allowed Satan to tempt David (see examples in Exodus 7:13; 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 16:10; Psalm 105:25). By God's absence (for he was angry against Israel), and Satan's activity in provoking David to do evil, David was moved to number the children of Israel. Note, as we look at the case of Job, one might conclude that God brought turmoil upon Job, as Satan came before the presence of the Lord, asking that he might test Job (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). God permitted Satan to lay trial after trial upon Job, but consider what Job thought concerning the things which were upon him (Job 1:21; 2:9-10). Consider also the perspective of Job's friends (Job 5:17). Surely it is clear, God is at times spoken of as the cause of those things which He allows to take place. There is no contradiction.
460
Is it OK to take a census? 21:2
Yes. Solomon had a census (like his father David's) and God didn't mind at all.
2 Chronicles 2:17
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them....
No. God killed 70,000 men because of David's census.
2 Samuel 24:1-17
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. ... And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done. ... So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel ... and there died of the people .. seventy thousand men.
1 Chronicles 21:2
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. ... And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. ... So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
Christian Response
461
How many soldiers? 21:5
800,000 for Israel; 500,000 for Judah.
2 Samuel 24:9
And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah five hundred thousand men.
1,100,000 for Israel; 470,000 for Judah.
1 Chronicles 21:5
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand [1,100,000] men that drew sword; and Judah was four hundred three score and ten thousand [470,000] men that drew the sword.
Christian Response
462
How many years of famine? 21:12
Seven
2 Samuel 24:13
So Gad came to David and told him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?
Three
1 Chronicles 21:11-12
So Gad came to David and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, choose thee either three years of famine.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20011007.htm Answering The AtheistOctober 7, 2001 / Volume 1, Issue 31THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How many years of famine were threatened? In 2 Samuel 24:13, we read, "So God came to David and told him, and said unto him, shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or will thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee?..." However, 1 Chronicles 21:11 reads, "So God came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, choose thee, either three years of famine or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee..." Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Certainly, with a hurried look, 2 Samuel 24:13 and 1 Chronicles 21:11 seem to be contradictory. However, I would suggest that the questioner slow down and read the Scriptures more carefully (and in context), for these texts are in full agreement. David's choices of punishment for his sin before the Lord were:- 1 - three years of famine;- 2 - three months to be destroyed before his enemies;- 3 - three days of pestilence in the land. In the 1 Chronicles 21 account, these three choices are given to David. Notice, that the latter two choices are parallel in the 2 Samuel 24 account, but the first choice is different, both in the number of years mentioned and in the way the punishment is worded. The Lord there does not invite David to chose 3 years of famine, but rather asks, "...shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?" In 2 Samuel 21:1, it is written, "...there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." Three years of famine had already occurred. Add to this the current year (the time which passed from 2 Samuel 21:1 to 2 Samuel 24:13), and then the three years of famine as recorded in 1 Chronicles 21:11, and you have seven years of famine. There is no contradiction.
463
Does God repent? 21:15
Yes
God repents.
Genesis 6:6
And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Exodus 32:14
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Deuteronomy 32:36
For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants.
1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me [God] that I have set up Saul to be king.
1 Samuel 15:35
The Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
2 Samuel 24:16
The Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, it is enough: stay now thine hand.
1 Chronicles 21:15
The Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand.
Isaiah 38:1-5
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah ... said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. ... Thus saith the LORD ... I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Jeremiah 15:6
I [God] am weary of repenting.
Jeremaih 18:8
I [God] will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jeremaih 26:3
That I [God]may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them.
Jeremiah 26:13
The Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
Jeremiah 26:19
The Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them.
Jeremaih 42:10
For I [God] repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
Amos 7:3, 6
The Lord repented for this.
Jonah 3:10
God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them.
No
God does not repent.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of a man that he should repent.
1 Samuel 15:29
The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
Ezekiel 24:14
I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent.
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not.
James 1:17
With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20030622.htmAnswering The AtheistJune 22, 2003 / Volume 3, Issue 25THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:Does God repent? Several passages tell us that God does not repent (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Ezekiel 24:14; Malachi 3:6; James 1:7), and yet, so many more say that He does (Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:14; Deuteronomy 32:36; 1 Samuel 15:11, 35; 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Jeremiah 15:6; 18:8; 26:3, 13, 19; 42:10; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:10). Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:Let us begin by establishing what “repentance” is. We so often link it with sin, and rightly so, as we are to repent of our sin, but the word simply means to be sorry and make a change. Can the Lord repent? Certainly, a list of verses has been supplied by the questioner. Thus, we’ll not address those, but rather the ones which are considered to be contradictory. In Numbers 23:19, Balaam speaking to Balak discusses the surety of God. He had received command by the Lord to bless the people of Israel, and far be it from him that he should not do as the Lord had said. The Lord would not repent of His command to Balaam, and allow the curse which Balak sought to be brought against the people. This does not say that God cannot repent, but rather acknowledges that in this particular situation, He would not. Likewise, in 1 Samuel 15:29, God had taken the kingdom of Israel from Saul’s hands, and it would not be returned to him. It is not that God could not choose to do so, but rather, He would not. In both cases, the steadfastness of God is compared to the variations of man. The writers did not say, nor should we understand it to mean that God cannot repent of a decision, but rather shows that He does not do so with the ease that man is changed. Of the text in Ezekiel, notice, it does not say that the Lord cannot repent, but simply that He will not. There is a huge difference between not being able to do something, and simply not doing it. Finally, of the texts in Malachi and James, in context, both these demonstrate to us the wonderful longsuffering which God has for man. Neither restrict the Lord from ever repenting of something He has decided to do. But how can one who does not change have a change of mind? Is it not His nature which is unchanging? A parents love for a child does not change, though they may make various decisions, and perhaps change their mind in some cases. It is no different with the Lord. He can be “unchanging” and still repent of that which He has thought to do. There is no contradiction.
464
For how much did David buy the threshing floor? 21:25
For fifty shekels of silver.
2 Samuel 24:24
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekel of silver.
For six hundred shekels of gold.
1 Chronicles 21:25
So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold.
Christian Response
http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20041219.htm Answering The AtheistDecember 19, 2004 / Volume 4, Issue 51THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:How much did David pay for the threshing floor? Did he pay fifty shekels of silver (2 Samuel 24:24) or did he pay six hundred shekels of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25)? Is there a contradiction? RESPONSE:According to 2 Samuel 24:24, David paid fifty shekels of silver, and in return received "...the threshing floor and the oxen..." In 1 Chronicles 21, the price paid was not merely for the threshing floor and the oxen, but for "...the place of this threshing floor..." (v 21). David not only bought the threshing floor and the oxen, but the entire property. The fifty shekels of silver was the price paid for the former, the six hundred shekels of gold for the latter. There is no contradiction.
465
Who were the sons of Heman? 25:4
Christian Response
1 Chronicles 25:4
The sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth
Bukkiah
Mattaniah
Uzziel
Shebuel
Jerimoth
Hananiah
Hanani
Eliathah
Giddalti
Romamtiezer
Joshbekashah
Mallothi
Hothir
Mahazioth
2 Chronicles 29:14
And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei...
Jehiel
Shimei
466
Who owns the earth? 29:11
God
Genesis 14:19, 22
The most high God, possessor of heaven and earth....
Exodus 9:29
The earth is the LORD's.
Exodus 19:5
All the earth is mine
Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
1 Chronicles 29:11
All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 50:12
The world is mine, and the fulness thereof
Psalm 89:11
The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine.
1 Corinthians 10:26
The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
Satan
Matthew 4:8-9
The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee
Luke 4:5-6
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee.
Humans
Psalm 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Christian Response
467
When did Solomon's reign begin? 29:27-28
476 years after the Israelites left Egypt
1 Kings 6:1
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
570 years after the Israelites left Egypt
Acts 13:17-18, 20-22
The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness....And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
1 Chronicles 29:26-27
Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Christian Response