Ezra 4:23—How could foreign influence have caused the work to cease when Haggai 1:2 blames it on the indifference of the leaders?

Problem: Ezra 4:7–23 records that after the great beginning made by the people in laying the foundation of the temple, foreign enemies came up to force the people to stop the rebuilding project. However, Haggai 1:2 implies that the people were indifferent toward the building project. What was the real reason for the delay in rebuilding the temple?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

Ezra 3:10—How could the rebuilding have begun during the reign of Cyrus when Ezra 4:24 says it was in the reign of Darius I?

Problem: According to Ezra 3:8–13, the rebuilding of the temple began under the reign of Cyrus the Great (cf. Ezra 5:16), who reigned in Persia from about 559 to 530 b.c. However, Ezra 4:24 says the rebuilding of the temple took place during the reign of Darius, King of Persia, about 520 b.c. Also, Haggai 1:15 implies that the building of the temple did not begin until 520 b.c. How can these statements be reconciled?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

Ezra 2:1ff—Why are many of the numbers in Ezra’s list of those who returned to Jerusalem different from those in Nehemiah 7?

Problem: In the record of those who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel as recorded in Ezra, there are 32 family units identified and numbered. In 18 of these instances, the numbers in Ezra are exactly the same as those found in Nehemiah 7. However, in 14 instances, the numbers differ. The difference ranges from as little as one to as much as 1,100. Why are these numbers different?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

Ezra 1:8—Who is Sheshbazzar?

 

Problem: When Cyrus the king of Persia allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem, he gave back the articles of the house of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had taken. According to Ezra 1:8, Cyrus counted out into the hands of Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah the treasures that Nebuchadnezzar had taken. Who was this Sheshbazzar?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

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?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

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?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

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?

Continue reading →

Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty