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?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

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?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty

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?

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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?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty