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).
2 Kings 14:3, 7—Why is Amaziah commended for abhorring Edomites when God said not to do so?
Problem: The record says that Amaziah did “what was right in the sight of the Lord” (v. 3) and that “he killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt” (v. 7). This is in spite of the fact that the law commanded, “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother” (Deut. 23:7).
2 Kings 9:7—How could God condemn Jehu for bloodshed when God had commanded him to exterminate the house of Ahab?
Problem: In 2 Kings 9:6–10, we find the commissioning of Jehu by the Lord to strike down the house of Ahab. According to 2 Kings 10:30, God commended Jehu for having destroyed the house of Ahab. However, Hoshea prophesied that God would “avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu” (Hosea 1:4). How could God condemn Jehu for shedding blood when it was God who had commanded him to do so?
2 Kings 8:25—Did Ahaziah become king in the twelfth year of Jehoram or in the eleventh year of Jehoram?
Problem: According to 2 Kings 8:25, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah in the twelfth year of the reign of Jehoram son of Ahab, king of Israel. However, 2 Kings 9:29 states that Ahaziah became king of Judah in the eleventh year of the reign of Jehoram over Israel. Which is right?
2 Kings 6:19—Didn’t Elisha lie to the Syrian troops who were coming to capture him?
Problem: When Elisha went out to meet his enemies, he told them “this is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek” (2 Kings 6:19). How could a man of God lie to these Syrian troops?
2 Kings 3:18–19—Didn’t Israel violate the law of warfare by destroying fruit trees?
Problem: Moses had commanded the armies of Israel about their enemy’s land saying, “You shall not destroy its trees” (Deut. 20:19). However, here in 2 Kings they were instructed to “cut down every good tree.” Continue reading →
2 Kings 2:23–24—How could a man of God curse these 42 young men so that they were mauled by she-bears?
Problem: As Elisha was going up to Bethel, he was confronted by some young people who mocked him saying, “Go up, you baldhead!” When Elisha heard this, he turned and pronounced a curse on them, and two she-bears came out of the wood and mauled 42 of the young men. How could a man of God curse these young men for such a minor offense?
2 Kings 1:17—When did Jehoram son of Ahab begin his reign as king of Israel?
Problem: According to 2 Kings 1:17, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. However, according to 2 Kings 3:1, Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. When did Jehoram son of Ahab become king in Israel?
1 Kings 22:49—How can this verse say that Jehoshaphat refused Ahaziah’s request when 2 Chronicles says they worked together?
Problem: According to 1 Kings 22:48, Jehoshaphat built several merchant ships. When Ahaziah requested that Jehoshaphat take some of his servants, Jehoshaphat refused. However, according to 2 Chronicles 20:35, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahaziah to build these merchant ships. How can one passage state that Jehoshaphat refused to let Ahaziah’s servants sail on the ships when the other verse claims that they worked together on building these ships?
1 Kings 22:22—How could God use “lying spirits” to do His will since He forbids lying?
Problem: The Scriptures teach that God is truth (Deut. 32:4) and that it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18). Furthermore, God commands us not to lie (Ex. 20:16), and He will severely punish those who do (Rev. 21:8). And yet, in spite of all this, God is portrayed in this passage as enlisting lying spirits to entice wicked king Ahab to seal his own doom. The text says, “Now therefore, look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours” (v. 23).