Problem: Here we read, “Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.” But, in 2 Samuel 2:8, Saul’s son Ishbosheth was not killed and was even later made king.
30
Nov
2019
Month: November 2019
29
Nov
2019
1 Chronicles 9:1—What happened to the missing “Book of Kings”?
Problem: The Books of Chronicles often refer to other missing books on which the inspired record in Chronicles is based in part (cf. 1 Chron. 9:1; 27:24; 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 13:22; 16:11; 25:26; 27:7; 28:26; 32:32; 33:19; 35:27; 36:8). Some of these books were written by prophets (1 Chron. 29:29). How could books that were written by prophets of God, or were the basis of prophetic books, perish? Why did not God preserve His Word?
28
Nov
2019
1 Chronicles 8:33—Was Ner the father of Kish or the son of Abiel?
Problem: 1 Samuel 14:51 refers to “Ner the father of Abner” who was Saul’s cousin. For Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were brothers, having the same father, Abiel (1 Sam. 14:51, niv). But in 1 Chronicles 8:33 “Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul,” which would make Ner Saul’s grandfather. But if Ner was the father of Abner (as 1 Sam. 14:51 says), who was Saul’s cousin, then Ner would have been Saul’s uncle. Which was he?
27
Nov
2019
1 Chronicles 5:22—How could the God of peace conduct war?
Problem: In 1 Chronicles 5:18–22, the war of the sons of Reuben, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, against the Hagrites is described. Verse 20 states that the children of Israel cried out to the Lord in the midst of the battle, and God helped them in their fight against the Hagrites. In fact, verse 22 states, “for many fell dead, because the war was God’s.” However, if God is good (Ps. 100:5) and if God is the God of peace (Rom. 15:33), how can He make war?
26
Nov
2019
1 Chronicles 3:19—What is the correct genealogical relationship of Pedaiah, Shealtiel, and Zerubbabel?
Problem: According to the statement in 1 Chronicles 3:19, Zerubbabel was the son of Pedaiah. However, according to Ezra 3:2, Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel. What is the correct genealogical relationship?
24
Nov
2019
1 Chronicles 2:18—Was Caleb’s father Hezron, Hur, or Jephunneh?
Problem: According to this verse, Caleb’s father was Hezron. But verse 50 says it was Hur, and Joshua 14:6 lists it as Jephunneh.
23
Nov
2019
2 Kings 24:8—How old was Jehoiachin when he became king?
Problem: The record in 2 Kings 24:8 states that Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. However, in 2 Chronicles 36:9 we find the claim that Jehoiachin was age 8 when he became king. Which is correct?
22
Nov
2019
2 Kings 24:6—Did Jehoiakim die in Jerusalem, as this passage suggests, or did he die in Babylon, as 2 Chronicles 36:6 implies?
Problem: The statement in 2 Kings 24:6 indicates that Jehoiakim died a peaceful death at home. However, 2 Chronicles 36:6 describes Jehoiakim’s capture and deportation to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, which indicates that Jehoiakim died a terrible death in a foreign land. Which is correct?
21
Nov
2019
2 Kings 23:30—Did Josiah die at Megiddo or at Jerusalem?
Problem: This verse says Josiah died in the city of Megiddo, but elsewhere it affirms he died in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 35:24).
20
Nov
2019
2 Kings 20:12–15—How can these verses speak of the visitors from Berodach-Baladan as coming after the invasion of Sennacherib?
Problem: According to the sequence of events as they are presented in 2 Kings 20:12–15, the delegation sent from Berodach-Baladan (spelled Merodach-Baladan in Isa. 39:1) came to visit Hezekiah after the invasion of Sennacherib in 701 b.c. However, according to historical evidence, Berodach-Baladan had fled to Elan after having been expelled from Babylon by Sennacherib in 702 b.c. How can the chronology of these verses be reconciled?
19
Nov
2019
2 Kings 20:11—How could the shadow retreat by ten degrees on the stairway of Ahaz?
Problem: In response to Hezekiah’s prayer, God instructed Isaiah to prophesy to Hezekiah that God would add 15 years to Hezekiah’s life. When he heard this, Hezekiah asked for a sign to confirm God’s promise. The sign was that the shadow would retreat ten degrees. But, this would involve making the shadow go backward instead of forward as the sun set. How could the shadow retreat?
18
Nov
2019
2 Kings 18:13—How can this verse say that Sennacherib invaded Judah in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah?
Problem: 2 Kings 18:13 claims that “in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.” Since archaeological evidence has established Sennacherib’s invasion at 701 b.c., this would mean that Hezekiah became co-regent with his father Ahaz in 719 b.c., and sole ruler of Judah in 715 b.c. However, according to 2 Kings 18:1, Hezekiah became co-regent in 729 b.c., and he became sole ruler of Judah when his father died in 725 b.c. This is a discrepancy of ten years. Which account is correct?
17
Nov
2019
2 Kings 17:4—How can this verse mention a king of Egypt named “So” when there are no records of such a king?
Problem: When Shalmaneser king of Assyria came to do battle with Hoshea king of Israel, Shalmaneser discovered a conspiracy which Hoshea had begun when he “sent messengers to So, king of Egypt” (2 Kings 17:4). However, besides this statement in the Bible, there are no records of a king of Egypt named So. Is this an error?
16
Nov
2019
2 Kings 15:27—How can this verse say Pekah ruled over Samaria for 20 years when he took Samaria 8 years before the end of his reign?
Problem: According to 2 Kings 15:27, Pekah ruled over Israel in Samaria for 20 years. However, Hoshea the son of Elah killed Pekah only 8 years after Pekah had taken Samaria from Menahem. How could Pekah have reigned over Israel for 20 years when he only reigned from Samaria for 8 years?
15
Nov
2019
2 Kings 14:29—Are the dead asleep or conscious?
Problem: As in this passage, the Bible often speaks of death as the time when one “sleeps with his fathers” (e.g., 1 Kings 2:10; 11:21, 43; 14:20, kjv). Jesus said, “Lazarus sleeps” (John 11:11) when he was “dead” (John 11:14). Paul speaks of believers who have “fallen asleep” in the Lord (1 Thes. 4:13; cf. 1 Cor. 15:51). Yet, in other places, the Bible speaks of persons being conscious in the presence of God after they die (cf. 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Rev. 6:9).